Annona muricata: Comprehensive Review on the Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Aspects Focusing on Antidiabetic Properties

Comprehensive review of opportunities and challenges of ethnomedicinal plants for managing type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder worldwide. A variety of antidiabetic medications have been developed to help manage blood glucose levels in diabetic patients, but adverse reactions and efficacy loss over time have spurred research into new therapeutic agents. In view of this, investigations into the antidiabetic effect of herbal products have been encouraged due to their potential availability, inexpensiveness, and relatively minimal side effects. This review explores the antidiabetic potentials of the eight most promising medicinal plants in terms of molecular mechanisms, phytochemistry, toxicology, and efficacy. These plant extracts have gone through clinical trials and demonstrated good control of blood glucose levels by increasing serum insulin levels, enhancing tissue glucose uptake, and/or decreasing intestinal glucose uptake. Yet, medicinal plants are far from being able to replace conventional antidiabetic drugs for patient management but they have the potential for further development if rigorous clinical trials on their mechanisms, delivery, and dose regimen are performed. To date, no study has been performed to isolate and characterize active compounds in these plant extracts, suggesting that further investigations in this area would be the next step to advance this field.

Antioxidative, anti-androgenic, and inhibitory activities of ethanolic extract of Annona muricata leaf on sex hormones-induced benign prostate hyperplasia through in vivo and in silico studies

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) remains one of the major age-related urological problems in the world. Annona muricata (soursop) leaf has been reported to exhibit antiproliferative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities, among others, in the literature. Here, we aimed to unravel the antioxidative, antiandrogenic, and inhibitory activities of the ethanol extract of Annona muricata leaf (EEAML) on sex hormones-induced benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) through in vivo and in silico studies. Thirty-six male rats were segmented into six groups of six animals each, the control group received water, and the BPH group and the remaining four groups were parentally infused with testosterone (T) and oestradiol (E2) (0.08 and 0.04 mg/Kgbwt) once daily for 28 days to induce BPH. After that, the control and BPH groups received water and normal saline, while the remaining four groups received finasteride (FIN) (0.1 mg/kgbwt) and EEAML (200, 400, and 800 mg/kgbwt) for another 28 days before sacrifice, and serum was collected for biochemical analysis. Additionally, the active ingredients of EEAML were identified using a Gas Chromatography Flame Ionisation Detector (GC-FID) followed by molecular docking (MD) against the human androgen receptor (hAR) target, and ADMET analysis of selected EEAML compounds was carried out. EEAML (200, 400, and 800 mg/kgbwt) restored the T and E2-induced depletion of reduced glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and elevation of malondialdehyde, prostate-specific antigen, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone levels in the serum of BPH rats. GC-FID analysis of EEAML showed the presence of 21 compounds from which 15 compounds were subjected to MD revealing that flavone, followed by ribalinidine, flavonone, anthocyanin, and naringenin displayed desirable binding affinities against the hAR target. ADMET analysis of these top-five EEAML compounds revealed that they were excellent oral bioavailable drug candidates with predicted minimal toxicities. In conclusion, EEAML exhibited antioxidative, antiandrogenic, and inhibitory activities owing to its phytoconstituents, which in turn could serve as drug templates for much better efficacy.

Amazonian Fruits for Treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The Amazon region has a high biodiversity of flora, with an elevated variety of fruits, such as Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dúbia), Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum and Astrocaryum vulgare), Fruta-do-conde (Annona squamosa L.), Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), Graviola (Annona muricata L.), Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth var. sorbilis), and Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora), among many others, that are rich in phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins with prominent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies evaluating the chemical composition of these fruits have observed a high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. Such components are associated with significant biological effects in treating various non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related complications. Regular intake of these fruits from Amazonas emerges as a potential therapeutic approach to preventing and treating NCDs as a nutritional strategy to reduce the incidence or mitigate common complications in these patients, which are the leading global causes of death. As studies remain largely unexplored, this narrative review discusses the possible health-beneficial effects for patients with NCDs.

Exploring the antifungal potential of Annona muricata leaf extract-loaded hydrogel in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis

Vulvovaginal candidiasis, mostly caused by Candida albicans, remains a prevalent concern in women's health. Annona muricata L. (Annonaceae), a plant native from Brazil, is well-known for its therapeutic potential, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. This study presents an innovative hydrogel formulation containing the ethanolic extract from A. muricata leaves designed to control C. albicans in an in vivo model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Here, we report the development, thermal, physicochemical and rheological characterization of a Carbopol®-based hydrogel containing A. muricata extract. Furthermore, we evaluated its activity in a vulvovaginal candidiasis in vivo model. Thermal analyses indicated that the addition of the extract increased the polymer-polymer and polymer-solvent interactions.Rheological analysis showed a decrease in the viscosity and elasticity of the formulation as the A. muricata extract concentration increased, suggesting a liquid-like behavior. After treatment with the Carbopol®-based hydrogel with A. muricata, our in vivo results showed a significant reduction in vulvovaginal fungal burden and infection, as well as a reduction in mucosal inflammation. The current research opens up possibilities for the application of the Carbopol®-based hydrogel with A. muricata as a natural therapeutic option for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Annona squamosa Fruit Extract Ameliorates Lead Acetate-Induced Testicular Injury by Modulating JAK-1/STAT-3/SOCS-1 Signaling in Male Rats

Lead (Pb) is a common pollutant that is not biodegradable and gravely endangers the environment and human health. Annona squamosa fruit has a wide range of medicinal uses owing to its phytochemical constituents. This study evaluated the effect of treatment with A. squamosa fruit extract (ASFE) on testicular toxicity induced in male rats by lead acetate. The metal-chelating capacity and phytochemical composition of ASFE were determined. The LD50 of ASFE was evaluated by probit analysis. Molecular docking simulations were performed using Auto Dock Vina. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were equally divided into the following groups: Gp1, a negative control group; Gp2, given ASFE (350 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.)) (1/10 of LD50); Gp3, given lead acetate (PbAc) solution (100 mg/kg b. wt.); and Gp4, given PbAc as in Gp3 and ASFE as in Gp2. All treatments were given by oro-gastric intubation daily for 30 days. Body weight changes, spermatological parameters, reproductive hormone levels, oxidative stress parameters, and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated, and molecular and histopathological investigations were performed. The results showed that ASFE had promising metal-chelating activity and phytochemical composition. The LD50 of ASFE was 3500 mg/kg b. wt. The docking analysis showed that quercetin demonstrated a high binding affinity for JAK-1 and STAT-3 proteins, and this could make it a more promising candidate for targeting the JAK-1/STAT-3 pathway than others. The rats given lead acetate had defective testicular tissues, with altered molecular, biochemical, and histological features, as well as impaired spermatological characteristics. Treatment with ASFE led to a significant mitigation of these dysfunctions and modulated the JAK-1/STAT-3/SOCS-1 axis in the rats.

Integrative phytochemical, ligand structure based drug design nephroprotective potential of Annona muricata flower-petals

This study was aimed at investigating the ability of extract of Annona muricata (AM) flower-petals in ameliorating the toxic effects of acetaminophen on the kidneys of albino rats. The biochemical results showed a marked increase in AM 200 mg (32.84 ± 0.14) and AM 400 mg (32.64 ± 0.78). Increase levels of total protein in AM 200 mg (77.00 ± 5.65) displays nephroprotective potential of the flower extract. Reduction of renal activities of serum urea in AM 400 mg group (6.41 ± 0.22) indicates its protective potency against acetaminophen induced kidney damage. Increased activities of SOD levels at 200 mg (4.97 ± 0.05) and CAT levels at 200 mg (23.39 ± 1.13). This study showed that A. muricata has good prospects of being a nephroprotective drug candidate.

Antimutagenic and antitumor activities of a water-soluble fraction of soursop (syn Graviola, Annona muricata L.) fruit pulp

Soursop (Annona muricata) is a tropical tree whose decoction derived from bark, root, seed, or leaf has been used for medicinal uses. In addition, the fruit itself is considered a food, and the juice is utilized to treat heart and liver diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the phenolic content. In addition, a water-soluble fraction of the soursop fruit pulp (WSSP) was examined for the following properties: antioxidant, mutagenic, and antimutagenicity. UV-visible spectrophotometry determined total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method to be 11.22 ± 0.6 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram dried extract, and free-radical scavenging activity by the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•) showed an EC50 of 1032 µg/ml. In the Salmonella/microsome assay, no marked mutagenicity was induced following WSSP treatment, and a chemopreventive capacity was observed in the antimutagenic assay. The cytotoxicity assays were carried out using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays demonstrated that WSSP induced significant cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and Caco-2 cells, indicating greater effectiveness of cytotoxic action by destroying cell membrane integrity. Data suggest that WSSP may exert beneficial effects as a DNA chemopreventive and antitumor agent.

Antioxidant and cytotoxicity screenings of ethyl acetate extract from Annona muricata leaves and its fractions

Leaves of Annona muricata have medicinal potential which has gained attention from researchers around the world. This study has an objective to screen the antioxidant and cytotoxicity of ethyl acetate extract from A. muricata leaves and its fraction. The fine powder of A. muricata was macerated in methanol and further partitioned using two different solvents, namely n-hexane and ethyl acetate. In this article, we reported the screening results for ethyl acetate extract. Fractionation was then performed on the extract by means of column chromatography by gradient elution resulting in five combined fractions. Brine shrimp lethality test and 1-diphenyl-2-pycrilhidrazil (DPPH) assays were employed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antioxidant of the extract, respectively. Characterization using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) was then conducted. The cytotoxicity of the samples was indicated by median lethal concentration50 values ranging from 28.84 to 1023.3 ppm. As for the antioxidant activity, the DPPH median inhibitory concentration50 values ranged from 4.12 to 180.66 ppm. GC-MS analysis on the most bioactive fraction revealed the predominating phytochemical contents of neophytadiene, palmitic acid, and phytol. In conclusion, the fraction of ethyl acetate extract from A. muricata leaves could potentially act as a strong antioxidant and moderate cytotoxic agent.

Assessing the Acute Toxicological Effects of Annona muricata Leaf Ethanol Extract on Rats: Biochemical, Histopathological, and Metabolomics Analyses

Annona muricata is a common plant used in Africa and South America to manage various types of disease. However, there is insufficient toxicological information or published standard available regarding repeated dose animal toxicity data. As part of the safety assessment, we exposed Sprague Dawley rats to an acute oral toxicity of A. muricata. The intent of the current study was to use advanced proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) in serum and urinary metabolomics evaluation techniques to provide the in vivo acute toxicological profile of A. muricata leaf ethanol extract in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) 423 guidelines. A single 2000 mg/kg dose of A. muricata leaf ethanol extract was administered to Sprague Dawley rats over an observational period of 14 days. The toxicity evaluation (physical and behavior observation, body weight, renal function test, liver function test and 1H NMR analysis) showed no abnormal toxicity. Histopathological analysis manifested mild changes, i.e., the treated kidney manifested mild hypercellularity of mesangial cells and mild red blood cell congestion. In addition, there was mild hemorrhage into tissue with scattered inflammatory cells and mild dilated central vein with fibrosis in the liver. However, the changes were very mild and not significant which correlate with other analyses conducted in this study (biochemical test and 1H NMR metabolomic analysis). On the other hand, urinary 1H NMR analysis collected on day 15 revealed high similarity on the metabolite variations for both untreated and treated groups. Importantly, the outcomes suggest that A. muricata leaf ethanol extract can be safely consumed at a dose of 2000 mg/kg and the LD50 must be more than 2000 mg/kg.