Anthelmintic and antimycobacterial activity of fractions and compounds isolated from Cissampelos mucronata

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich., a perennial climber belonging to the family Menispermaceae, has been used traditionally to treat parasites and tuberculosis-related symptoms. Co-infection of helminth parasites and tuberculosis-causing pathogens heightens the risk of developing active tuberculosis.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim was to isolate and characterize antimycobacterial compounds from Cissampelos mucronata and to investigate their antibiofilm and anthelmintic efficacy as well as cytotoxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The acetone extract of C. mucronata leaves and stems was fractionated by vacuum liquid chromatography using hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol:chloroform (3:7). Separation of the active ethyl acetate fraction by column and preparative thin layer chromatography led to the isolation and identification of five compounds using NMR and LC-MS, as well as GC-MS for non-polar compounds. The anthelmintic, antimycobacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as cytotoxicity of the fractions and compounds were determined.

RESULTS

The ethyl acetate fraction had the best antimycobacterial activity (MIC = 0.015-0.08 mg/ml). The fractions were relatively non-toxic to Vero cells (0.03-0.79 mg/ml) and had good anti-inflammatory and antibiofilm effects. Five compounds were identified as stigmasterol, hentriacontane, simiarenol, nonacosene and carbonic acid. Nonacosene had moderate anthelmintic effects but poor antimycobacterial activity (MIC = 0.375 mg/ml). Nonacosene and hentriacontane had good biofilm inhibitory effect (90-100%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals that C. mucronata is a potential source of promising compounds with a range of useful bioactivities that support its use in traditional medicine. Development of plant-based remedies may assist in reducing the impact of co-infections with helminth parasites and tuberculosis-causing mycobacteria.

Chemical profiling and quantification of potential active constituents responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of Cissampelos pareira

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cissampelos pareira is used traditionally in India as a remedy for the treatment of various diseases including malaria but the active ingredients responsible for antiplasmodial activity have not yet been investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The identification and quantification of compounds responsible for antiplasmodial activity in different parts (leaf, stem and root) of C. pareira is the target of current study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The hydro ethanolic parent extracts of different parts of C. pareira and fractions prepared from these extracts were evaluated against Pf3D7 (chloroquine sensitive) and PfINDO (chloroquine resistance) strains in culture to quantify the IC₅₀ for extracts and fractions. Promising fractions of root part of plant were subjected to silica gel column chromatography to obtain pure compounds and their structures were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis. Pure compounds were also tested against Pf3D7 and PfINDO strains. A rapid and simple UPLC-DAD method was developed for the identification and quantification of pharmaceutically important metabolites of C. pareira.

RESULTS

Among different extracts, the hydro ethanolic extract of root part of C. pareira was found most active with IC₅₀ values (μg/ml) of 1.42 and 1.15 against Pf 3D7 and Pf INDO, respectively. Tested against Pf 3D7 the most potent fractions were root ethyl acetate fraction (IC₅₀ 4.0 μg/ml), stem water fraction (IC₅₀ 4.4 μg/ml), and root water fraction (IC₅₀ 8.5 μg/ml). Further, phytochemical investigation of active fractions of root part led to the isolation and characterization of a new isoquinoline alkaloid, namely pareirarine (8), along with five known compounds magnoflorine (5), magnocurarine (10), salutaridine (11), cissamine (13) and hayatinine (15). Hayatinine (15), a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, isolated from root ethyl acetate fraction was most promising compound with IC₅₀ of 0.41 μM (Pf INDO) and 0.509 μM (Pf 3D7). Magnocurarine (10) and cissamine (13) were also found active with IC₅₀ values of 12.51 and 47.34 μM against Pf INDO and 12.54 and 8.76 μM against Pf 3D7, respectively. A total of thirty compounds were detected in studied extracts and fractions, structures were assigned to 15 of these and five of these biologically important compounds were quantified. Isolation of saluteridine (11) from C. pareira and the evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of pure compound from C. pariera is disclosed for the first time.

CONCLUSION

This study concludes that the antimalarial potential of C. pareira may be attributed to isoquinoline type alkaloids present in this plant and also provides the scientific evidence for the traditional use of this plant in treatment of malaria.

Metabolomic fingerprinting of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler leaf extract and correlation with its spasmolytic activity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichler (Menispermaceae) is popularly used in northeastern Brazil for the treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma. Despite many pre-clinical pharmacological studies, the compounds mediating the anti-asthma activity of polar extracts of Cissampelos sympodialis leaves have not been definitively identified.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the bioactivity of polar extracts prepared from the leaves of C. sympodialis and the chemical composition using a ¹H-NMR-based metabolomics approach.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The metabolic profile of the leaf polar extract during different phenological stages of the plant was investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy while simultaneously screening for spasmolytic activity using guinea-pig tracheal preparations. The content of the alkaloids previously implicated in the bioactivity of Cissampelos sympodialis was determined by HPLC.

RESULTS

PCA analysis of the ¹H NMR data discriminated the extracts from different plant phenological stages. The contents of the major alkaloids decrease (from 2 ± 0.32 μg/mL for warifteine and 1 ± 0.14 μg/mL for methylwarifteine) to undetectable levels from 90 (CsL₉₀ extract) and 120 (CsL₁₂₀) days onwards for warifteine and methylwarifteine, respectively. All six extracts relaxed the trachea pre-contracted with carbachol, but the CsF₂₁₀ extract was more potent (EC₅₀ = 74.6 ± 7.9 μg/mL) compared to both CsL₉₀ extracts and CsL₁₈₀ in the presence of functional epithelium. PLS regression analysis of ¹H-NMR spectral data demonstrated that the spasmolytic activity was better correlated with signals for flavonol derivatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data challenge the idea that warifteine and methylwarifteine mediate the spasmolytic activity of the polar extract of C. sympodialis leaves.

Cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanism related to antiulcer activity of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. in animal models

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The leaves and roots of Cissampelos sympodialis (Menispermaceae) are used by indian tribes and in folk medicine to treat genitourinary infections, inflammation, asthma and gastrointestinal disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The standardized ethanolic extract (Cs-EtOHE) and alkaloids total fraction (Cs-TAF) obtained from aerial parts of C. sympodialis were evaluated in several models of acute gastric ulcers. The antisecretory and/or neutralizing mechanisms of the gastric acid secretion, cytoprotective, antioxidant and immunoregulatory mechanisms were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Cs-EtOHE and Cs-TAF presented a reduction in gastric mucosa lesions against ethanol, NSAIDs, hypothermic restraint-stress and gastric juice containment induced ulcer models. This activity is related to alkaloids present in the extract, and involves the participation of sulfhydryl compounds, nitric oxide, K_ATP channels, prostaglandins, decreased levels of IL-1β and TNF-α and increased levels of GSH and IL-10.

CONCLUSION

The data indicate gastroprotective activity, due to the participation of the cytoprotective, antioxidant and immunoregulatory mechanisms.

Antifertility activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Cissampelos pareira in female albino mice

meenakshi Cissampelos pareira Linn. is one of the folk medicinal plants commonly used as antifertility agent in some places of India. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the antifertility effect of the leaf extract. Cissampelos pareira leaf extract, when administered orally, altered the estrous cycle pattern in female mice, prolonged the length of estrous cycle with significant increase in the duration of diestrus stage and reduced significantly the number of litters in albino mice. The analysis of the principal hormones involved in estrous cycle regulation showed that the plant extract altered gonadotropin release (LH, FSH and prolactin) and estradiol secretion. The results indicated the antifertility effect of Cissampelos pareira leaf extract in female albino mice. The oral LD50 of the extract was found to be 7.3 g/kg in mice.

Anthelmintic activity of aporphine alkaloids from Cissampelos capensis

Two known aporphine alkaloids, (S)-dicentrine (1) and (S)-neolitsine (2), have been isolated from the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Cissampelos capensis (Menispermaceae). The structures of these compounds were elucidated by NMR and MS analysis and comparison to literature data. These compounds were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation using the Haemonchus contortus larval development assay. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited EC90 values (concentration at which 90% loss of larval motility is observed) of 6.3 and 6.4 microg/mL, respectively. In an IN VIVO assay, administration of 1 resulted in 67% reduction of worm counts in mice at 25 mg/kg when dosed orally.

Anorectic and behavioural effects of chronicCissampelos sympodialistreatment in female and male rats

Male and female rats were treated daily for 13 weeks with an ethanol extract of Cissampelos sympodialis leaves (9, 45 and 225 mg[sol ]kg). The food consumption, body weight and behavioural effects in the open-field test were evaluated by weekly monitoring. The results showed that the extract chronic treatment in female rats (45 and 225 mg[sol ]kg) reduced significantly the food intake and the body weight, and produced several alterations in the open-field test. These findings indicate that repeated oral administration of the extract may produce a sex-dependent difference in anoretic and behavioural effects.

Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae): oral treatment decreases IgE levels and induces a Th1-skewed cytokine production in ovalbumin-sensitized mice

The murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergy was used to evaluate the effectiveness of oral treatment with the leaf extract of Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. (Menispermaceae) (CS) in the modulation of immunoglobulin E (IgE) production and T cell activation. CS treatment with doses ranging from 200 to 600 mg/Kg/day for 15 days before and during OVA-sensitization promoted reduction in total and OVA-specific serum IgE. CS at 400 or 600 mg/Kg/day also reduced paw edema induced by local OVA challenge. Daily intake of up to 600 mg/Kg of oral CS by BALB/c mice did not reduce weight gain, which is indicative of a lack of systemic toxicity. To assess the effect of CS treatment on T cell proliferative response to stimuli in vitro, the mitogenic response of spleen cells of treated and control animals were evaluated. Cells from CS-treated animals showed an elevated background proliferative response to concanavalin-A (Con-A) when compared to those from control animals. Oral intake of CS increased the in vitro production of IFN-gamma and IL-10 by Con-A stimulated cells. Mice treated with 200 mg/Kg/day CS showed increasing levels of IFN-gamma. These results show that oral treatment with Cissampelos sympodialis extract has an immunomodulatory effect, reducing allergy-associated responses possibly by a preferential activation of Th1-type cytokines.