Phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity studies of Chrysophyllum pruniforme Pierre ex Engl. barks

Phytochemical and biological diversity of triterpenoid saponins from family Sapotaceae: A comprehensive review

Sapotaceae is a flowering plants family reported for its richness in triterpenoid saponins. Sapotaceae comprises a large number of fruit-producing plants of nutritional and medicinal value. Different species of family Sapotaceae received a considerable interest owing to their rich triterpenoid saponins content of a myriad pharmacological effects and health benefits. Several databases were searched for collecting papers for this review in the scope of phytochemistry, bioactivity and record of triterpenoid saponins from family Sapotacese such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus and Reaxys from 1990 till now. Triterpenoid saponins reported from Sapotaceae plants are mostly of protobassic acid, 16-α-hydroxyprotobassic acid, bayogenin, and oleanolic acid derivatives with both monodesmosidic and/or bidesmosidic attached sugar side chains. Besides, the most frequently attached sugar units are glucose, glucoronic acid, apiose, xylose, rhamnose, and arabinose. The reported health effects of Sapotaceae plants in folk medicine in relation to their bioactive saponins were also reviewed with special attention to anti-inflammatory, antiulcer activity, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic, anti-hypercholesterolemic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. This review aims to present a holistic compile on the phytochemical and biological diversity of triterpenoid saponins reported from family Sapotaceae with future perspectives.

Assessment of Larval Toxicity and the Teratogenic Effect of Three Medicinal Plants Used in the Traditional Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in Benin

Objective

Mangifera indica Linn, Bridelia ferruginea Benth, and Alstonia boonei De Wild are three plants commonly used in the traditional treatment of urinary tract infections in Benin. This study sets out to assess the cytotoxic and teratogenic effects of extracts of these plants on Artemia salina larvae and hen embryos.

Methods and Results

The aqueous and ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration of the powders in solvents. Larval cytotoxicity was performed on Artemia salina larvae. The teratogenic effect of these plants was evaluated on chick embryos at 100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg. The extracts were injected on the 7th and 14th days of incubation. The quality of the hatched chicks was evaluated by the Tona score followed by the hematological and the biochemical parameter assays. The extracts did not show cytotoxicity on the larvae. The eggs treated with plant extracts at 300 mg/kg significantly lowered the hatchability rate, except for the Mangifera indica Linn. The chicks obtained were all at the very good quality. Then, no significant variation was observed between hematological parameters except white blood cells. For the biochemical parameters, only ASAT showed some significant variations for a few extracts. It would be important to assess the genotoxicity of the plant extracts to determine more broader toxicity. These data justify the use of these medicinal plants in traditional Beninese medicine and constitute in fact a source of production of anti-infectious drugs.

Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Content, Antioxidant, and Toxicity Test with BSLT of Meistera chinensis Fruit Fraction from Southeast Sulawesi

Meistera chinensis is one of the new generations of the Zingiberaceae family. Zingiberaceae have a large number of species and still need research to reveal their chemical content. Meistera chinensis, a local plant that is widespread in Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi. Empirically, M. chinensis is used as a flavor enhancer in food, aches, and increases body immunity. There are no reports of chemical content or its biological activity. In this study, the fruit was tested for phytochemicals, antioxidants using the ABTS test, total phenolic, total flavonoid content, and toxicity test with BSLT. Meistera chinensis was extracted with ethanol and fractionated by ethyl acetate solvent use vacuum liquid chromatography. Phytochemical screening was carried out qualitatively by using the calorimetric method. The fraction toxicity was monitored by a lethal test for brine shrimp (BSLT). These fractions for the ABTS method obtained fractions 1-8 (F1-F8) and ascorbic acid were used as controls. The results showed radical scavenging activities fraction of M. chinensis fruit was a very strong activity with IC50 of 42.7±3.53 mg/L (F8). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 30.72±1.07 mgGAE/g and 8.02±0.48 mgQE/g, respectively. The phytochemical evaluation contains terpenoids, saponins, phenolics, steroids, alkaloids, and flavonoids. The BSLT toxicity test was found to be very toxic with IC50 of 5.20±0.72 mg/L. These findings indicate that the fruit of M. chinensis acts as an antioxidant and toxicity agent.

Effect of Muntingia calabura L. Stem Bark Extracts on Uric Acid Concentration and Renal Histopathology in Diabetic Rats

Background and objectives: This study was designed to determine uric acid concentration and renal histopathology of Muntingia calabura L. stem bark extract in diabetic rats and to compare the natural product of M. calabura L. stem bark extract with allopurinol. Materials and Methods: A completely randomized design was used for the experiment, which consisted of six treatment groups, each consisting of four rats, as follows: 1) NR, normal rat; 2) KN, diabetic rat (negative control); 3) KP, diabetic rats given allopurinol 10 mg/kg body weight; 4) EM150, diabetic rats given the test extract 150 mg/kg body weight/day; 5) EM300, diabetic rats given the test extract 300 mg/kg body weight/day; and 6) EM450, diabetic rats given for extract 450 mg/kg body weight/ day. Results: The results showed that M. calabura L. stem bark extract decreased (p < 0.05) uric acid concentrations in diabetic rats and no specific damage to renal proximal tubular cells was seen. Conclusions: It was concluded that M. calabura L. stem bark extract has a potential as an antihyperuricemic in diabetic rats. The recommended dose was 300 mg/kg body weight to provide a significant effect on reducing the uric acid level in diabetic rats. Our results support the use of this plant for the treatment of degenerative and inflammatory diseases.

Toxicity studies of medicinal plants used in sub-Saharan Africa

In sub-Saharan Africa, traditional medicine is widely used in rural and urban areas also. This is essentially due to the prohibitive cost of pharmaceutical-based medicine and the low incomes of a major part of the population. In addition, the efficacies of many of these traditional and plant-based medicines are proven, but the fact remains that certain plants used in traditional medicine have toxic effects. It is in this perspective that we investigated by bibliographic literature on the toxicity of plants used in traditional medicine. It is crucial to gain knowledge on these plant-based medicines prepared and prescribed by practitioners, particularly in terms of toxicity, composition, specific efficacy of disease and to advise practitioners of this alternative medicine on the protection and security of patients.