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Zuluaga G. Potential of Bitter Medicinal Plants: A Review of Flavor Physiology. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:722. [PMID: 38931389 PMCID: PMC11206615 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The function of the sense of taste is usually confined to the ability to perceive the flavor of food to assess and use the nutrients necessary for healthy survival and to discard those that may be harmful, toxic, or unpleasant. It is almost unanimously agreed that the perception of bitter taste prevents the consumption of toxins from plants, decaying foods, and drugs. Forty years ago, while practicing medicine in a rural area of the Colombian Amazon, I had an unexpected encounter with the Inga Indians. I faced the challenge of accepting that their traditional medicine was effective and that the medicinal plants they used had a real therapeutic effect. Wanting to follow a process of learning about medicinal plants on their terms, I found that, for them, the taste of plants is a primary and fundamental key to understanding their functioning. One of the most exciting results was discovering the therapeutic value of bitter plants. The present review aims to understand whether there is any scientific support for this hypothesis from the traditional world. Can the taste of plants explain their possible therapeutic benefit? In the last 20 years, we have made novel advances in the knowledge of the physiology of taste. Our purpose will be to explore these scientific advances to determine if the bitter taste of medicinal plants benefits human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán Zuluaga
- Grupo de Estudios en Sistemas Tradicionales de Salud, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111711, Colombia; ; Tel.: +57-311-2179102
- Centro de Estudios Médicos Interculturales, Cota 250010, Colombia
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Tauchen J, Frankova A, Manourova A, Valterova I, Lojka B, Leuner O. Garcinia kola: a critical review on chemistry and pharmacology of an important West African medicinal plant. PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS : PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF EUROPE 2023:1-47. [PMID: 37359709 PMCID: PMC10205037 DOI: 10.1007/s11101-023-09869-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae) is a tree indigenous to West and Central Africa. All plant parts, but especially the seeds, are of value in local folklore medicine. Garcinia kola is used in treatment of numerous diseases, including gastric disorders, bronchial diseases, fever, malaria and is used to induce a stimulating and aphrodisiac effect. The plant is now attracting considerable interest as a possible source of pharmaceutically important drugs. Several different classes of compounds such as biflavonoids, benzophenones, benzofurans, benzopyran, vitamin E derivatives, xanthones, and phytosterols, have been isolated from G. kola, of which many appears to be found only in this species, such as garcinianin (found in seeds and roots), kolanone (fruit pulp, seeds, roots), gakolanone (stem bark), garcinoic acid, garcinal (both in seeds), garcifuran A and B, and garcipyran (all in roots). They showed a wide range of pharmacological activities (e.g. analgesic, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects), though this has only been confirmed in animal models. Kolaviron is the most studied compound and is perceived by many studies as the active principle of G. kola. However, its research is associated with significant flaws (e.g. too high doses tested, inappropriate positive control). Garcinol has been tested under better conditions and is perhaps showing more promising results and should attract deeper research interest (especially in the area of anticancer, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activity). Human clinical trials and mechanism-of-action studies must be carried out to verify whether any of the compounds present in G. kola may be used as a lead in the drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Tauchen
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adela Frankova
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Manourova
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Valterova
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Lojka
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Leuner
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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Rufa’i FA, Baecker D, Mukhtar MD. Phytochemical Screening, GC-MS Analysis, and Evaluating In Vivo Antitrypanosomal Effects of a Methanolic Extract of Garcinia kola Nuts on Rats. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12040713. [PMID: 37107074 PMCID: PMC10135259 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosomiasis is a serious disease that affects both humans and animals, causing social and economic losses. Efforts to find new therapeutic approaches are warranted to improve treatment options. Therefore, the purpose of this communication includes the phytochemical screening of a methanolic extract of Garcinia kola nuts and the in vivo evaluation of its biological activity against rats infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei and treated with 4 different concentrations of the extract (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 mg/kg). Treatment with suramin served as a positive control, while the negative control received no drug. Since the general toxicity of the extract could be ruled out, efficacy was evaluated based on physiological changes, such as induction of trypanosome parasitemia, influence on body temperature, and body weight. Survival was assessed during this study. Physical parameters, behavioral characteristics, and various hematological indices were also monitored. Based on the (patho)physiological and behavioral parameters (e.g., no parasitemia, no increase in body temperature, an increase in body weight, no loss of condition, no alopecia, and no gangrene), the efficacy of the extract was evident, which was also confirmed by 100% survival, while in the negative control, all rats died during the observation period. Since overall very similar results were obtained as a result of treatment with the established suramin, the in vivo antitrypanosomal activity of a methanolic extract of G. kola nuts on rats can be demonstrated in this communication. This opens the way, for example, for further development of drug formulations based on this methanolic extract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatihu Ahmad Rufa’i
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bayero University, Kano PMB 3011, Nigeria
- Kano Liaison Office, Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (and Onchocerciasis) Research, Kaduna PMB 2077, Nigeria
| | - Daniel Baecker
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Greifswald, Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Straße 17, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Muhammad Dauda Mukhtar
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Bayero University, Kano PMB 3011, Nigeria
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Maňourová A, Chinheya IP, Kalousová M, Ruiz-Chután JA, Okafor UC, Tchoundjeu Z, Tsobeng A, Van Damme P, Lojka B. Domestication Potential of Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae): Searching for Diversity in South Cameroon. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:742. [PMID: 36840090 PMCID: PMC9966834 DOI: 10.3390/plants12040742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Seeds and bark of Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae) are popular products in West and Central Africa. Despite the tree's economic and cultural importance, little is known about its phenotypic and genotypic variation. This study characterised the morphological and genetic diversity of G. kola in South Cameroon, searching for traits and populations that might be used for domestication. Morphological assessment and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were applied to characterise diversity among geographic populations from Central and South regions, and between managed and wild trees. AFLP-SURV and analysis of molecular variance results indicated that a major part of genetic diversity is harboured within populations rather than between them. Bayesian analysis, principal component analysis and t-SNE identified three clusters where Ebolowa emerged as the transition population, combining features from both regions. Trees from the south had a higher prevalence of morphological domestication-related characteristics. Trees from the central region, on the other hand, demonstrated greater genetic diversity. No significant differences in phenotype and genotype were revealed between wild and managed populations, suggesting G. kola is still in the early stages of its domestication process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maňourová
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Irikidzai Prosper Chinheya
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Kalousová
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - José Alejandro Ruiz-Chután
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Guatemala City 010012, Guatemala
| | - Uche Cyprian Okafor
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zac Tchoundjeu
- Higher Institute of Environmental Sciences (HIES), Yaounde P.O. Box 16317, Cameroon
| | - Alain Tsobeng
- World Agroforestry Centre (CIFOR-ICRAF) Cameroon, Derrière Usine Bastos, Yaounde P.O. Box 16317, Cameroon
| | - Patrick Van Damme
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture and Ethnobotany, Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bio-Science Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bohdan Lojka
- Department of Crop Sciences and Agroforestry, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic
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Immune System and Epidemics: The Role of African Indigenous Bioactive Substances. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15020273. [PMID: 36678143 PMCID: PMC9864875 DOI: 10.3390/nu15020273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
With over 6 million coronavirus pandemic deaths, the African continent reported the lowest death rate despite having a high disease burden. The African community's resilience to the pandemic has been attributed to climate and weather conditions, herd immunity, repeated exposure to infectious organisms that help stimulate the immune system, and a disproportionately large youth population. In addition, functional foods, herbal remedies, and dietary supplements contain micronutrients and bioactive compounds that can help boost the immune system. This review identified significant traditional fermented foods and herbal remedies available within the African continent with the potential to boost the immune system in epidemics and pandemics. Methodology: Databases, such as PubMed, the Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched using relevant search terms to identify traditional African fermented foods and medicinal plants with immune-boosting or antiviral capabilities. Cereal-based fermented foods, meat-, and fish-based fermented foods, and dairy-based fermented foods containing antioxidants, immunomodulatory effects, probiotics, vitamins, and peptides were identified and discussed. In addition, nine herbal remedies and spices belonging to eight plant families have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and antiviral properties. Peptides, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, ascorbic acid, minerals, vitamins, and saponins are some of the bioactive compounds in the remedies. Bioactive compounds in food and plants significantly support the immune system and help increase resistance against infectious diseases. The variety of food and medicinal plants found on the African continent could play an essential role in providing community resilience against infectious diseases during epidemics and pandemics. The African continent should investigate nutritional, herbal, and environmental factors that support healthy living and longevity.
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The Future of Food: Domestication and Commercialization of Indigenous Food Crops in Africa over the Third Decade (2012–2021). SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14042355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper follows the transition from ethnobotany to a deeper scientific understanding of the food and medicinal properties of African agroforestry tree products as inputs into the start of domestication activities. It progresses on to the integration of these indigenous trees as new crops within diversified farming systems for multiple social, economic and environmental benefits. From its advent in the 1990s, the domestication of indigenous food and non-food tree species has become a global programme with a strong African focus. This review of progress in the third decade is restricted to progress in Africa, where multi-disciplinary research on over 59 species has been reported in 759 research papers in 318 science publications by scientists from over 833 research teams in 70 countries around the world (532 in Africa). The review spans 23 research topics presenting the recent research literature for tree species of high priority across the continent, as well as that in each of the four main ecological regions: the humid zone of West and Central Africa; the Sahel and North Africa; the East African highlands and drylands; and the woody savannas of Southern Africa. The main areas of growth have been the nutritional/medicinal value of non-timber forest products; the evaluation of the state of natural resources and their importance to local people; and the characterization of useful traits. However, the testing of putative cultivars; the implementation of participatory principles; the protection of traditional knowledge and intellectual property rights; and the selection of elite trees and ideotypes remain under-researched. To the probable detriment of the upscaling and impact in tropical agriculture, there has been, at the international level, a move away from decentralized, community-based tree domestication towards a laboratory-based, centralized approach. However, the rapid uptake of research by university departments and national agricultural research centres in Africa indicates a recognition of the importance of the indigenous crops for both the livelihoods of rural communities and the revitalization and enhanced outputs from agriculture in Africa, especially in West Africa. Thus, on a continental scale, there has been an uptake of research with policy relevance for the integration of indigenous trees in agroecosystems and their importance for the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. To progress this in the fourth decade, there will need to be a dedicated Centre in Africa to test and develop cultivars of indigenous crops. Finally, this review underpins a holistic approach to mitigating climate change, as well as other big global issues such as hunger, poverty and loss of wildlife habitat by reaping the benefits, or ‘profits’, from investment in the five forms of Capital, described as ‘land maxing’. However, policy and decision makers are not yet recognizing the potential for holistic and transformational adoption of these new indigenous food crop opportunities for African agriculture. Is ‘political will’ the missing sixth capital for sustainable development?
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Emmanuel O, Uche ME, Dike ED, Etumnu LR, Ugbogu OC, Ugbogu EA. A review on garcinia kola heckel: traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and toxicology. Biomarkers 2021; 27:101-117. [PMID: 34904497 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2021.2016974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Garcinia kola is a medicinal plant commonly known as bitter kola. It is utilised in ethnomedicine for the treatment of diarrhoea, bronchitis, bacterial infection, cough, hepatitis, gonorrhoea, laryngitis, food poison, liver and gastric diseases. OBJECTIVE This study reviewed the phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and ethnomedicinal potentials of G. kola. MATERIALS AND METHODS An extensive review was performed using electronic literature collated from ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley, and PubMed databases. RESULTS Phytochemical analysis revealed the isolation of several chemical compounds including 9-octadecenoic acid, linoleic acid, 14-methylpentadecanoic acid, 1-butanol, hexadecanamide, I-4',II-4',I-5,II-5,I-7,II-7-hexahydroxy-I-3,II-8-biflavanone, lanost-7-en-3-one, kolaflavanone (8E)-4-geranyl-3,5-dihydroxybenzophenone, glutinol, Garcinia biflavonoid (GB-2a-II-4'-OMe), 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol, 24-methylene, tirucallol, lupeol, β-amyrin, obtusifoliol and Kolaviron. Diverse pharmacological in-vivo and in vitro investigations revealed that G. kola has anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, anti-asthmatic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. CONCLUSION The present study revealed that G. kola has preventive and therapeutic potentials against various diseases in both in vivo and in vitro studies and therefore can be utilised as a raw material in the pharmaceutical industries for the development of therapeutic products. However, there is a need for clinical trial experiments to validate and provide accurate and substantial information on the required safe dosage and efficacy for the treatment of several diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Okezie Emmanuel
- Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
| | - Miracle E Uche
- Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
| | - Emmanuel D Dike
- Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
| | - Lotanna R Etumnu
- Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
| | | | - Eziuche A Ugbogu
- Department of Biochemistry, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria
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Ilo SU, Akuru EA, Egbo JC, Oyeagu CE, Edeh HO. Dietary effects of Garcinia kola seed meal on growth performance, hematology and serum biochemical parameters of weaned rabbits. Vet World 2021; 14:499-507. [PMID: 33776317 PMCID: PMC7994132 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.499-507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Garcinia kola seed (GKS) is used to prevent and cure a number of gastric-related ailments. GKS contain a copious amount of polyphenols and can be utilized as a natural growth promoter in the nutrition of weaned rabbits. This study aimed to determine the dietary effects of GKS meal (GKSM) on the growth performance, hematology and serum biochemical parameters of weaned rabbits. Materials and Methods: GKS were dried and ground into powder. Thirty-two 8-week-old crossbred rabbits with an average weight of 614 g were randomly divided into four dietary groups. The diets were designated as follows: Control (corn-soybean based diet with 0% GKSM) and the GKSM-supplemented diets with 1.5% GKSM, 3% GKSM, and 4.5% GKSM. On the 56th day of the feeding trial, blood was collected from the marginal ear vein of all rabbits and transferred into two separate labeled tubes. The first set of blood was used to determine the hematological indices. The second set of blood was transferred into plain bottles and allowed to coagulate. The coagulated blood was subjected to standard methods of serum separation, and the sera were harvested and used to evaluate serum biochemical parameters. Results: Although the average final body weight was highest in rabbits fed with 1.5% GKSM; this value was similar to rabbits fed with 0% and 4.5% GKSM. The average daily weight gain was highest in rabbits fed with 1.5% GKSM, while the feed conversion ratio was improved in the 0% and 1.5% GKSM groups. The dietary treatments also had a significant effect on the red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, while other blood parameters did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Higher inclusion levels (3% and 4.5%) of GKSM led to a significant increase in RBC and Hb values (p < 0.05). The total protein increased at all levels of GKSM inclusion (p < 0.05). Bilirubin, sodium, and potassium levels significantly decreased at 4.5% GKSM inclusion (p < 0.05). Urea levels were lowered at 1.5% and 4.5% GKSM inclusion, while cholesterol levels were decreased at 3% and 4.5% dietary levels. Conclusion: From the results of the present study, the supplementation of up to 4.5% GKSM revealed no harmful effect on the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of weaned rabbits, while their growth performance improved at a 1.5% inclusion level of GKSM.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eunice Amaka Akuru
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka 410001, Nigeria.,Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa
| | | | - Chika Ethelbert Oyeagu
- Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Wellington Campus, Private Bag X8, Wellington 7654, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Henry Oyeji Edeh
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nigeria Nsukka 410001, Nigeria
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Adeleye OA, Femi-Oyewo MN, Bamiro OA, Bakre LG, Alabi A, Ashidi JS, Balogun-Agbaje OA, Hassan OM, Fakoya G. Ethnomedicinal herbs in African traditional medicine with potential activity for the prevention, treatment, and management of coronavirus disease 2019. FUTURE JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES 2021; 7:72. [PMID: 33778086 PMCID: PMC7980728 DOI: 10.1186/s43094-021-00223-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ethnomedicine, a study of traditional medicine, is significant in drug discovery and development. African traditional medicine has been in existence for several thousands of years, and several drugs have been discovered and developed from it. MAIN TEXT The deadly coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a novel coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 has widely spread globally with high mortality and morbidity. Its prevention, treatment and management still pose a serious challenge. A drug for the cure of this disease is yet to be developed. The clinical management at present is based on symptomatic treatment as presented by individuals infected and this is by combination of more than two drugs such as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and anti-microbials. Literature search was performed through electronic searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, and several research reports including WHO technical documents and monographs. CONCLUSION Drug discovery from herbs is essential and should be exploited for the discovery of drugs for the management of COVID-19. This review is aimed at identifying ethnomedicinal herbs available in Africa that could be used for the discovery and development of a drug for the prevention, treatment, and management of the novel coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olutayo Ademola Adeleye
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Federal University Oye Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State Nigeria
| | - Mbang Nyong Femi-Oyewo
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Oluyemisi Adebowale Bamiro
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Lateef Gbenga Bakre
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Akinyinka Alabi
- Department of Pharmacology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Joseph Senu Ashidi
- Department of Plant Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | | | - Oluwakemi Mary Hassan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria
| | - Gbemisola Fakoya
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Lagos State Nigeria
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Okafor AI, Onyike E. Inhibition of key enzymes linked to snake venom induced local tissue damage by kolaviron. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol 2020; 32:1121-1130. [PMID: 34898137 DOI: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Snakebite envenoming is an important public health problem that threatens the lives of healthy individuals especially in many tropical countries like Nigeria. Antivenins, the only efficient approach for snakebite envenoming, are limited in their efficacy in the neutralization of local tissue damage. Snake venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2), protease, hyaluronidase and l-amino acid oxidase (LAAO) are the major hydrolytic enzymes involve in local tissue damage. Therefore, this study evaluates the inhibitory effect of kolaviron (KV) against Naja n. nigricollis (NNN) snake venom hydrolytic enzymes involved in local tissue damage. METHODS Kolaviron was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the hydrolytic enzyme activities of NNN venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2), protease, hyaluronidase and l-amino acid oxidase (LAAO). Present study also deals with the neutralization of NNN venom enzyme(s) induced complications such as myotoxic, edemic, hemolytic and procoagulant effects. RESULTS Kolaviron inhibited the PLA2, protease, hyaluronidase and LAAO enzyme activities of NNN venom in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, myotoxic, edemic, hemolytic and procoagulant effects induced by NNN venom enzyme were neutralized significantly (p<0.05) when different doses of KV were pre-incubated with venom before assays. CONCLUSIONS These findings clearly present kolaviron as a potent inhibitor against NNN venom hydrolytic enzymes involved in local tissue damage and may act by either forming an inhibitor-enzyme complex that restricts the substrate availability to the enzyme or direct binding to the enzyme active site that affects the enzyme activity thereby mitigating venom-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elewechi Onyike
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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Ilechie AA, Jeduah MM, Abraham CH, Ocansey S, Abu E, Okyere T, Ngosaro O. Oral consumption of Garcinia kola(Bitter kola) lowers intraocular pressure. Acta Ophthalmol 2020; 98:e1028-e1033. [PMID: 32275352 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Garcinia kola (bitter kola) is locally ingested across the West African subregion. It has ocular hypotensive effects similar to some commonly used glaucoma medications when administered topically. The study assessed the effect of oral ingestion of G. kola on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHOD A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design was used in this study. Forty-six healthy subjects, aged between 19 and 27 years were recruited and randomized into two groups (A and B). Subjects in group A ingested 100 mg/kg body weight bitter kola in a 200 ml solution on their first visit and group B ingested 200 ml of water. On the second visit, the order of treatment was reversed, IOP was measured at baseline and every 45 min interval for 135 min. The mean difference between the baseline and post-treatment IOP measurements were tested for statistical significance using repeated-measures analysis of variance (95% confidence intervals [CIs]). RESULTS Mean IOP measurements decreased by 7.9, 18.2 and 20.6% at 45, 90 and 135 min, respectively, after G. kola treatment. The reduction, though variable across subjects, was statistically significant (F [2.13, 95.62] = 90.35, p < 0.0001) across the respective time points. Repetition of an identical protocol without G. kola caused clinically negligible changes in IOP. There was no statistically significant influence of gender or age in G. kola effect on IOP reading. CONCLUSION Oral ingestion of G. kola lowered the intraocular pressure of healthy young adults by 21%. Such an effect may be of therapeutic benefit to patients with POAG or ocular hypertension in low-income settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex A. Ilechie
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
| | - Mohammed M. Jeduah
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
| | - Carl H. Abraham
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
| | - Stephen Ocansey
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Abu
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
| | - Theophilus Okyere
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science University of Cape Coast Cape Coast Ghana
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Study on characteristics of biflavanones distribution in Garcinia kola seeds and identification of compounds in gum resin exuded from fresh slices. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020; 190:113512. [PMID: 32805527 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Garcinia kola seeds play an important role in African traditional medicine, which are widely used to treat stomachache, gastritis, malaria, venereal diseases and laryngitis. The habitats, specification, different parts of seeds and slicing process are important factors that affect the quality of Garcinia kola seeds. Interestingly, brownish yellow or brownish red spots were derived from gum resin exuded during slicing, whose chemical constituents have not been elucidated. A rapid high performance liquid chromatography method was established for quantitative study of four main biflavanones (GB-2, GB-1, kolaflavanone and GB-1a) in Garcinia kola seeds. We found that the content of the tested biflavanones was slightly different in Garcinia kola seeds from different habitats, while the seeds weight showed no obvious influence on the biflavanones content from the same habitat. With the aid of "spider-web" mode, we unveiled that the accumulation of biflavanones mainly occurred in seed kernels. Furthermore, slices thickness (1-2 mm) was optimized by comprehensive evaluation of biflavanones' content, moisture, cutting-time and drying-time to efficiently dry the slices. By employing of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/ESI Q-Orbitrap MS), garcinoic acid and its derivatives were successfully identified in gum resin, conducing to the interesting finding about the distribution of biflavanones and derivatives of garcinoic acid in Garcinia kola seeds. Generally, our findings in this research could contribute to standardizing the process of harvesting, processing and quality control for Garcinia kola seeds, and help better development and utilization of this important medicinal plant.
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