Cytotoxic glucosphingolipid from Celtis Africana

A comprehensive account on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological insights of genus Celtis

The plants of Celtis L. genus have been traditionally used to cure aches, sore throats, fevers, cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, sexual weakness, diarrhea, stomach problems, amenorrhea, menstrual disorders, kidney stones, and pain. The review aims to give a comprehensive account of the current state of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological activities of the Celtis genus, as well as to describe the potential area of future avenues. Information on the Celtis genus was obtained from internet sources such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and so on by using appropriate keywords, including ethnobotanical, pharmacological, pharmaceutical, bioactivity, phytochemistry, and botanical features of the Celtis genus. This review identified 14 species in the genus Celtis that have a phytopharmacological investigation, including C.africana Burm. f., C. australis L., C. occidentalis L., C. sinensis Pers., C. philippensis Blanco., C. tetrandra Roxb., C. tessmannii Rendle., C. jessoensis Koidz., C. adolfi-friderici Engl., C. iguanaea (Jacq.) Sarg., C. laevigata Wild., C. pallida Torr., C. zenkeri Engl., and C. tournefortii Lam. This genus contains many classified phytoconstituents, such as terpenoids, organic acids, flavonoids, and volatile compounds. Their extracts and pure substances have been shown to have the same anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, urease-inhibiting, and antidiarrheal properties as their traditional uses. In terms of current information on ethnopharmacology, phytochemicals, and pharmacological uses, the data acquired in this review could be beneficial and needed for future research. Some phytoconstituents (for instance, kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin, and eugenol) and extracts (for example, leaves, seeds, and ripe fruits extracts of C. australis) showed tremendous results in preliminary testing with promising antimicrobial, anticancer, and urease inhibitory effects. Further research and clinical investigations are needed to develop them as lead compounds and neutraceuticals, which may provide an advance over traditional medicinal systems.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

A review on traditionally used South African medicinal plants, their secondary metabolites and their potential development into anticancer agents

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Approximately 70% of anticancer drugs were developed or derived from natural products or plants. Southern Africa boasts an enormous floral diversity with approximately 22,755 plant species with an estimated 3000 used as traditional medicines. In South Africa more than 27 million individuals rely on traditional medicine for healthcare. The use of South African plants for the treatment of cancer is poorly documented, however there is potential to develop anticancer agents from these plants. Limited ethnobotanical studies report the use of plants for cancer treatment in traditional medicine. Plants growing in tropical or subtropical regions, such as in South Africa, produce important secondary metabolites as a protective mechanism, which could be used to target various factors that play a key role in carcinogenesis.

AIMS

The aim was to collate information from primary ethnobotanical studies on South African plants traditionally used for the treatment of cancer. Evaluation of literature focused on traditionally used plants that have been tested for their in vitro activity against cancer cells. Secondary metabolites, previously identified within these plant species, were also included for discussion regarding their activity against cancer. The toxicity was evaluated to ascertain the therapeutic potential in further studies. Additionally, the aim was to highlight where a lack of reports were found regarding plant species with potential activity and to substantiate the need for further testing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review of ethnobotanical surveys conducted in South Africa for plants used in the treatment of cancer was performed. Databases such as Science Direct, PubMed and Google Scholar, university repositories of master's dissertations and PhD theses, patents and books were used. Plant species showing significant to moderate activity were discussed regarding their toxicity. Compounds identified within these species were discussed for their activity against cancer cells and toxicity. Traditionally used plants which have not been scientifically validated for their activity against cancer were excluded.

RESULTS

Twenty plants were documented in ethnobotanical surveys as cancer treatments. Numerous scientific reports on the potential in vitro activity against cancer of these plants and the identification of secondary metabolites were found. Many of the secondary metabolites have not been tested for their activity against cancer cells or mode of action and should be considered for future studies. Lead candidates, such as the sutherlandiosides, sutherlandins, hypoxoside and pittoviridoside, were identified and should be further assessed. Toxicity studies should be included when testing plant extracts and/or secondary metabolites for their potential against cancer cells to give an indication of whether further analysis should be conducted.

CONCLUSION

There is a need to document plants used traditionally in South Africa for the treatment of cancer and to assess their safety and efficacy. Traditionally used plants have shown promising activity highlighting the importance of ethnobotanical studies and traditional knowledge. There are many opportunities to further assess these plants and secondary metabolites for their activity against cancer and their toxic effects. Pharmacokinetic studies are also not well documented within these plant extracts and should be included in studies when a lead candidate is identified.

Sweet Potato Peels and Cancer Prevention

A bioassay-guided fractionation of an alcoholic extract from the peels of Ipomoea batatas Lam has been carried out. Sulforhodamine B and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to evaluate the anticancer and antioxidant potential, respectively, while silica gel column chromatography (CC) was used to isolate compounds that were characterized using 1D- and 2D-NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and mass spectrometry. The alcoholic extract was fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. The n-hexane fraction which showed the most promising anticancer activity was further fractionated via silica gel CC into IB-F002A, IB-F002B, and IB-F002C. Of these, IB-F002C was the most active with IC₅₀ values 24.75, 47.91, 52.37, 34.17, 46.07, and 25.89 μg/ml against breast, colon-1, colon-2, ovary, lung, and head/neck cancer cell lines, respectively. The bioassay-guided isolation from IB-F002C afforded a glucocerebroside, which showed 10.51%, 12.19%, 16.14%, and 34.05% inhibition of head and neck, breast-1, colon-1, and ovarian cancer cell lines, respectively. Octadecyl coumarate, 7-hydroxycoumarin, and 6-methoxy-7-hydroxycoumarin that showed different antioxidant potentials were also identified in this study. Sweet potato peel, which is usually discarded as waste, contains constituents that can serve as dietary components to prevent the development of different types of cancer.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) viability on PVA and PCL polymer coated hydroxyapatite scaffolds derived from cuttlefish

In the present study, cuttlefish bones are used to prepare highly porous hydroxyapatite (HA) scaffolds via hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C.