1
|
Cheng X, Qin M, Chen R, Jia Y, Zhu Q, Chen G, Wang A, Ling B, Rong W. Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad.: A Promising Pharmaceutical Resource for Multiple Diseases. Molecules 2023; 28:6221. [PMID: 37687049 PMCID: PMC10488440 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae) is widely distributed in the desert areas of the world. The fruit bodies of C. colocynthis are recognized for their wide range of nutraceutical potential, as well as medicinal and pharmaceutical uses. The plant has been reported for various uses, such as asthma, bronchitis, cancer, colic, common cold, cough, diabetes, dysentery, and jaundice. The fruit has been extensively studied for its biological activities, which include insecticide, antitumor, and antidiabetic effects. Numerous bioactive compounds have been reported in its fruit bodies, such as essential oils, fatty acids, glycosides, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Of these, flavonoids or caffeic acid derivatives are the constituents associated with the inhibition of fungal or bacterial growth, whereas eudesmane sesquiterpenes or sesquiterpene lactones are most active against insects, mites, and nematodes. In this review, the scientific evidence for the biological activity of C. colocynthis against insecticide, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic effects is summarized.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotian Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University & The First People’s Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng 224001, China
| | - Minni Qin
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Rongrong Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Yunxia Jia
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Qing Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Guangtong Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Andong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| | - Bai Ling
- Department of Pharmacy, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University & The First People’s Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng 224001, China
| | - Weiwei Rong
- School of Pharmacy, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China; (X.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marković T, Čutović N, Carević T, Gašić U, Stojković D, Xue J, Jovanović A. Paeonia peregrina Mill Petals as a New Source of Biologically Active Compounds: Chemical Characterization and Skin Regeneration Effects of the Extracts. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11764. [PMID: 37511520 PMCID: PMC10380736 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Paeonia peregrina Mill. is a perennial herbaceous plant species, known for the medicinal value of all of its plant parts, although the chemical composition of the petals is unknown. This study aimed to determine the chemical fingerprint of the petals and also establish the optimal extraction parameters, extraction medium, and extraction method for petals collected from different localities in Serbia. The optimization was performed in order to acquire extracts that are rich in the contents of total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), and also exhibit strong antioxidant activity. In addition, the influence of the extracts on several human skin pathogens was evaluated, as well as their ability to aid wound closure and act as anti-inflammatory agents. Both the extraction medium and the applied technique significantly influenced the skin-beneficial biological activities, while methanol proved to be a more favorable extraction medium. In conclusion, the extraction conditions that yielded the extract with the richest phenolic content with satisfactory biological potential varied between the assays, while the most promising locality in Serbia for the collection of P. peregrina petals was Pančevo (South Banat).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Marković
- Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr Josif Pančić", Tadeuša Košćuška 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Natalija Čutović
- Institute for Medicinal Plants Research "Dr Josif Pančić", Tadeuša Košćuška 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Carević
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Uroš Gašić
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejan Stojković
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"-National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jingqi Xue
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops, Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ministry Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Aleksandra Jovanović
- Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy INEP, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sindhu HA, Afzal M, Shahid I. Pharmacological Activities and In-Silico Studies of Bioactive Compounds Identified in Organic Fractions of the Methanolic Extract of Citrullus Colocynthis. Dose Response 2023; 21:15593258231187357. [PMID: 37435595 PMCID: PMC10331210 DOI: 10.1177/15593258231187357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicinal plants have been extensively exploited for their immense pharmacological and immune-supporting potential. Fruit of Citrullus colocynthis has several active secondary metabolites such as phenolics, flavonoids, and essential oils that are used in traditional medicines as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents. In this study, phytoconstituents in organic fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate) of the methanolic extract of C. colocynthis were analyzed and identified by FT-IR, HPLC, and GC-MS analysis. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest antioxidant scavenging (76 ± .769%) and anti-inflammatory (40 ± .473%) activities at the concentration of 3 mg/mL. Similarly, antidiabetic effect was measured by inhibition of α-amylase where, ethyl acetate fraction (77 ± .844%) exhibited the highest antidiabetic activity. Among all organic fractions, ethyl acetate exhibited strong antimicrobial potential followed by n-hexane and chloroform fractions against selected pathogenic bacteria. Various concentrations of the ethyl acetate extract were tested in-vivo for cytotoxicity and results indicated minor morphological changes in liver cells including ballooning, fatty droplets, and slight accumulation of extracellular matrix even at concentrations of 400 mg/kg. In-silico study showed that stigmasta-7,16-dien-3-ol had a strong interaction with COX-1 and COX-2 to reduce inflammation. The abovementioned results indicate the pharmacological strengths of C. colocynthis to fight several diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haseeb Akram Sindhu
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Izzah Shahid
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Afzal M, Khan AS, Zeshan B, Riaz M, Ejaz U, Saleem A, Zaineb R, Sindhu HA, Yean CY, Ahmed N. Characterization of Bioactive Compounds and Novel Proteins Derived from Promising Source Citrullus colocynthis along with In-Vitro and In-Vivo Activities. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041743. [PMID: 36838731 PMCID: PMC9960351 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Herbal products are preferable to synthetic medicines, and the use of traditional medicines is increasing day-by-day. The current study was designed to evaluate the potentials of bioactive compounds from Citrullus colocynthis by performing FTIR, HPLC, and GC-MS analyses, which explore the good concentration of the secondary metabolites, such as gallic acid (74.854 ppm), vanillic acid (122.616 ppm), and ferulic acid (101.045 ppm) with considerable bioactivities. Antimicrobial protein was estimated by performing SDS-PAGE, ranging from 15 to 70 kDa in all protein fractions. The current study also checked the cytotoxicity of the bioactive compounds in the active fraction of C. colocynthis, and to perform this activity, the groups of rats were arranged with 16 rats randomly divided into four groups (three experimental and one control) by administering various dosage of methanolic fractions in dose-dependent manner. Histopathology was conducted on the livers of the rats after 15 days of sacrifice under deep anesthesia. In liver cell slides examined at the maximum dose of 600 mg/kg, minimal morphological changes, such as slight ballooning, nuclear variation, vacuolar degeneration, and hydropic degeneration, were observed. Furthermore, the in silico analysis identified bioactive compounds as potential drug candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Afzal
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Anis Shahzad Khan
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Basit Zeshan
- Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Sandakan 90509, Sabah, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
| | - Muhammad Riaz
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Umer Ejaz
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Saleem
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Rida Zaineb
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Haseeb Akram Sindhu
- Department of Basic and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Central Punjab, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Chan Yean Yean
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Naveed Ahmed
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Khalid A, Nadeem T, Khan MA, Ali Q, Zubair M. In vitro evaluation of immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Tribulus terrestris extracts. Sci Rep 2022; 12:22478. [PMID: 36577761 PMCID: PMC9797551 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26742-6] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Dampened immunity and impaired wound healing in diabetic patients may lead to diabetic foot ulcer disease, which is the leading cause of limb amputations and hospitalization. On the other hand, cancer is the most significant cause of mortality globally, accounting for over 10 million fatalities in 2020, or nearly one in every six deaths. Plants and herbs have been used to treat chronic diseases due to their essential pharmaceutical attributes, such as mitigating drug resistance, ameliorating systemic toxicities, reducing the need for synthetic chemotherapeutic agents,and strengthening the immune system. The present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of Tribulus terrestris on wound healing, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory responses against HepG-2 liver cancer cell line. Two solvents (methanol and ethanol) were used for root extraction of T. terrestris. The wound healing potential of the extracts was studied on diabetic cell culture line by scratch assay. The anti-oxidant and cytotoxic potentials were evaluated by in vitro assays against HepG2 cell line. The methanolic root extract resulted in the coverage of robust radical scavenging or maximum inhibition of 66.72%,potent cytotoxic activity or reduced cell viability of 40.98%, and anti-diabetic activity having mighty α-glucosidase inhibition of 50.16% at a concentration of 80 μg/ml. Significant reduction in the levels of LDH leakage (56.38%), substantial ROS (48.45%) and SOD (72.13%) activities were recorededMoreover, gene expression analysis demonstrated the down-regulation of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, MMP-9, Bcl-2, and AFP) in HepG-2 cells when treated with T. terresteris methanolic extract as compared to stress. Furthermore, the down-regulation of inflammatory markers was validated through ELISA-mediated protein estimation of IL-1β and TNF-α. It is expected that this study will lay a foundation and lead to the development of efficient but low-cost, natural herbs extract-based dressing/ointment for diabetic patients and identify potential drug metabolites to treat out-of-whack inflammatory responses involved in cancer onset, progression, and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Khalid
- grid.411786.d0000 0004 0637 891XDepartment of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Tariq Nadeem
- grid.11173.350000 0001 0670 519XCentre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Asaf Khan
- grid.412298.40000 0000 8577 8102Institute of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Qurban Ali
- grid.11173.350000 0001 0670 519XDepartment of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of the Punjab Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- grid.411786.d0000 0004 0637 891XDepartment of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Apoptotic Cell Death via Activation of DNA Degradation, Caspase-3 Activity, and Suppression of Bcl-2 Activity: An Evidence-Based Citrullus colocynthis Cytotoxicity Mechanism toward MCF-7 and A549 Cancer Cell Lines. SEPARATIONS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/separations9120411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study are to investigate the cytotoxic effect of different Citrullus colocynthis extracts on breast and lung cancer cell lines using flow cytometry to gain mechanistic insights. C. colocynthis was extracted sequentially using the Soxhlet method. We first tested the plant extracts’ cytotoxicity on non-malignant L929 cells and cancerous breast (MCF-7) and lung (A549) cell lines. We observed that the IC50 of the methanol extract on the viability of MCF-7 and A549 cell lines was 81.08 µg/mL and 17.84 µg/mL, respectively, using the MTT assay. The aqueous and methanol extracts were less toxic when tested against the non-cancerous L929 cell line, with IC50 values of 235.48 µg/mL and 222.29 µg/mL, respectively. Then, using flow cytometry, we investigated the underlying molecular pathways with Annexin-V, Anti-Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) assays. Flow cytometric and molecular marker analyses revealed that the methanol extract activated caspase-3 and inhibited Bcl-2 protein, causing early and late apoptosis, as well as cell death via DNA damage in breast and lung cancer cells. These findings indicate that the methanol extract of C. colocynthis is cytotoxic to breast and lung cancer cell lines. The total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis results showed the methanolic extract of C. colocynthis has a concentration of 326.25 μg GAE/g dwt and 274.61 μg QE/g dwt, respectively. GC-MS analysis of the methanol extract revealed phytochemicals relevant to its cytotoxicity.
Collapse
|
7
|
Letaief T, Garzoli S, Laghezza Masci V, Mejri J, Abderrabba M, Tiezzi A, Ovidi E. Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Tunisian Ziziphus lotus Extracts: Evaluation of Drying Effect, Solvent Extraction, and Extracted Plant Parts. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122651. [PMID: 34961122 PMCID: PMC8706238 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The Tunisian Ziziphus lotus plant was investigated to determine its phytoconstituents and evaluate its biological activities. In particular, the GC/MS technique was used to describe the chemical composition of Z. lotus active extracts and fractions. Among the obtained extracts, the yields of the dried root methanolic extract (29.80%) and the fruit aqueous extract (48.00%) were the highest ones. The dried root methanolic extract exhibited the highest amount in the total phenolics (186.44 ± 0.26 mg GAE/g DW), total flavonoids (102.50 ± 3.53 mg QE/g DW), and tannins (60.714 ± 2.2 mg catechin/g DW). The root aqueous extracts revealed the highest antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 8.96 ± 0.38 mg/L and 16.46 ± 0.60 mg/L for the ABTS•+ and DPPH• assays, respectively. The total antioxidant capacity was accorded to the methanolic extract of the dried roots with a value of 304.07 ± 1.11 µg AAE/mg. The drying process was found to improve the qualitative and quantitative properties of the Z. lotus extracts. The evaluation of the cytotoxic activity against the SH-SY5Y cell line was carried out using MTT assay. The petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of the dried roots showed relevant cytotoxic activities. The thin layer chromatography and the GC-MS/GC-FID analysis led to the identification of the 13-epimanool as a potent cytotoxic compound.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Touka Letaief
- Laboratory of Materials Molecules and Applications (LMMA), IPEST, University of Carthage, BP 51, La Marsa 2070, Tunisia; (T.L.); (J.M.); (M.A.)
- National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, Mahrajene 1082, Tunisia
- Department for the Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forestal Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (V.L.M.); (A.T.); (E.O.)
| | - Stefania Garzoli
- Department of Drug Chemistry and Technology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Laghezza Masci
- Department for the Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forestal Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (V.L.M.); (A.T.); (E.O.)
| | - Jamel Mejri
- Laboratory of Materials Molecules and Applications (LMMA), IPEST, University of Carthage, BP 51, La Marsa 2070, Tunisia; (T.L.); (J.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Manef Abderrabba
- Laboratory of Materials Molecules and Applications (LMMA), IPEST, University of Carthage, BP 51, La Marsa 2070, Tunisia; (T.L.); (J.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Antonio Tiezzi
- Department for the Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forestal Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (V.L.M.); (A.T.); (E.O.)
| | - Elisa Ovidi
- Department for the Innovation in Biological, Agrofood and Forestal Systems, Tuscia University, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (V.L.M.); (A.T.); (E.O.)
| |
Collapse
|