Effect of Terminalia arjuna on antioxidant defense system in cancer

Constant production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during aerobic metabolism is balanced by antioxidant defense system of an organism. Although low level of ROS is important for various physiological functions, its accumulation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. It is generally assumed that frequent consumption of phytochemicals derived from vegetables, fruits, tea and herbs may contribute to shift the balance towards an adequate antioxidant status. The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of medicinal plant Terminalia arjuna on antioxidant defense system in lymphoma bearing AKR mice. Antioxidant action of T. arjuna is monitored by the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase which constitute major antioxidant defense system by scavenging ROS. These enzyme activities are low in lymphoma bearing mice indicating impaired antioxidant defense system. Oral administration of different doses of aqueous extract of T. arjuna causes significant elevation in the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S transferase. T. arjuna is found to down regulate anaerobic metabolism by inhibiting the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in lymphoma bearing mice, which was elevated in untreated cancerous mice. The results indicate the antioxidant action of aqueous extract of T. arjuna, which may play a role in the anti carcinogenic activity by reducing the oxidative stress along with inhibition of anaerobic metabolism.     

Terminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) roxb. (Bahera) in health and disease: A systematic and comprehensive review

BackgroundTerminalia bellirica (Gaertn.) Roxb. is one of the oldest medicinal herbs of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka as well as South-East Asia. Its medicinal utility has been described in the different traditional medicinal systems, such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and traditional Chinese medicine.PurposeThe present study is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview on the traditional medicinal use, major phytoconstituents, biological and pharmacological activities and related mechanisms of actions and clinical studies of T. bellirica. Another objective is to describe current limitations and future direction of T. bellirica-related research.MethodsPubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and EBOSCO host databases were selected to explore literature published between 1980 and 2020 (till March). Keywords used in various combinations comprised of Terminalia bellirica, phytoconstituents, health effects, pharmacological activities, molecular targets, in vitro, in vivo, clinical studies, and disease prevention.ResultsA broad spectrum in vitro and in vivo studies suggested various biological and pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, antidiabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anticancer activities. Diverse bioactivities of T. bellirica have been ascribed to the presence of many bioactive phytochemicals, such as glucoside, tannins, gallic acid, corilagin, ellagic acid, ethyl gallate, galloyl glucose, chebulagic acid, and arjunolic acid.ConclusionPreclinical and clinical studies have suggested that T. bellirica plant and its phytoconstituents have immense potential for prevention and treatment of various diseases. Additional in vivo studies and clinical trials are warranted to realize the complete medicinal attributes of this plant.     

Endophytic Fungal Assemblages from Inner Bark and Twig of Terminalia arjuna W. & A. (Combretaceae)

Summary Fungal endophytes reside in healthy tissues of all terrestrial plant taxa studied to date and are diverse and abundant in tropical woody angiosperms. Endophytic fungi were isolated from Terminalia arjuna, an important ethno pharmacological plant extensively used in ayurvedic medicines to treat heart ailments. Isolations were made from symptomless fresh inner bark as well as twig samples of five plants collected from three locations of riparian vegetation during two seasons (monsoon and winter) of 2003 and 2004. Two hundred and seventy eight isolates, representing 22 genera, were obtained from both seasons. Monsoon seasonal isolations representing 22 genera showed greater diversity. Coelomycetes were more numerous during the winter season than hyphomycetes and ascomycetes. Among the endophytes, the genus Pestalotiopsis dominated the endophyte assemblage of T. arjuna collected from different locations, dominance was greater during the winter season than the monsoon season. Endophytic colonization frequency was greater in inner bark (18.5%) than twigs (4.6%). The genera Pestalotiopsis (54.5%), Chaetomium (10.5%) and Myrothecium (9%) were the most predominant endophytes. Rarefaction indices indicated the highest expected number of species for bark samples, monsoon isolations and location 1 (Mysore).     

Growth suppression of human transformed cells by treatment with bark extracts from a medicinal plant, Terminalia arjuna

Summary We have investigated the effects of acetone and methanol extracts of a medicinal plant, Terminalia arjuna, on the growth of human normal fibroblasts (WI-38), osteosarcoma (U2OS), and glioblastoma (U251) cells in vitro. We found that both extracts at 30 μg and 60 μg/ml concentrations inhibit the growth of transformed cells; the growth of normal cells was least affected. Although the transformed cells appeared to have fragmented nucleus by Hoechst staining, no deoxyribonucleic acid laddering effect was observed. In response to the extract treatment, the tumor suppressor protein, p53, was induced in U2OS but not in U251 and WI-38 cells. A cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21^WAF1, was induced in transformed cells only. The study suggests that the bark extract of medicinal plant, T. arjuna, has components that can induce growth arrest of transformed cells by p53-dependent and-independent pathways.     

Phyto-Pharmacological Review on Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng: As an Indigenous Plant of India with High Medicinal Potential

The medicinal aspects of Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng. It also provides the latest updated information on pharmacological and plant patents on phytoconstituents. The information was collected from various sources, including literature surveys, textbooks, databases, and internet sources like Scopus, Science Direct, Pubmed, Springer, Google Scholar, Taylor and Francis. The plant, Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng is an extensive valuable, and important medicinal plant in the Indian System of Medicine. The plant proved to show various ethnomedicinal uses mentioned in the literature and even possessed various pharmacological activities. Different bioactive metabolites exhibit several biological activities. However, the biological efficacies of various other chemical constituents are yet to be clarified and proved concerning the molecular mechanisms.     

Genome size and polyploidy variation in the tropical hardwood genusTerminalia (Combretaceae)

Chromosome complements and 2C DNA amounts of six species ofTerminalia have been studied.Terminalia oliveri, T. myriocarpa andT. arjuna are diploid (2n = 24),T. chebula andT. bellirica are tetraploid (2n = 48),T. muelleri shows a triploid number (2n = 36). Two well demarcated groups of species are recognizable on the basis of chromosome length and 2C DNA values which range from 3.60 pg (T. oliveri) to 12.80 pg (T. bellirica) showing a 3.5-fold difference. Differences of DNA per basic genome or per chromosome are greatest (1.97-fold) betweenT. oliveri andT. arjuna. Two species groups (1)T. oliveri andT. chebula, and (2)T. myriocarpa, T. arjuna, T. muelleri, T. bellirica, therefore are well differentiated by DNA per basic genome, irrespective of polyploidy. The mean values of the two groups are 1.81 pg and 3.34 pg, respectively, showing a 1.84-fold difference. Within diploids and tetraploids there is 1.97-fold and 1.76-fold variation, respectively.     

Saponins in Tribulus terrestris – Chemistry and Bioactivity

Tribulus terrestris is a valuable herb known for its application in the folk medicine in many parts of the world. Furostanol and spirostanol saponins of tigogenin, neotigogenin, gitogenin, neogitogenin, hecogenin, neohecogenin, diosgenin, chlorogenin, ruscogenin and sarsasapogenin type are frequently found in this plant. Four sulphated saponins of tigogenin and diosgenin type are also isolated. Extracts and steroidal saponins have been found to possess various pharmacological activities. Preparations based on the saponin fraction of T. terrestris are used for treatment of infertility and libido disorders in men and women, as well as for treatment of cardiac diseases. Food supplements containing T. terrestris extracts are on sale in USA and Europe with claim of a general stimulating action. In this review the steroidal saponins found in T. terrestris are presented, covering the literature up to 2004. The data reveal clear difference in the saponin composition of samples from this plant species collected from different geographical regions. A comprehensive account on the biological activity of extracts and individual saponins is also included.     

Metabolomic Profile by GC/MS and Antioxidant,Antidiabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Green Solvent Extracts of Heterospathe elata Leaves

Plants are the prime source of phytoconstituents that can act as potent agents for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Heterospathe elata is a plant belonging to the Arecaceae family having numerous medicinal properties. The present study was undertaken to prepare crude extracts of Heterospathe elata leaves with solvents of different polarity dimethyl carbonate (DMC), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), hydro alcohol (HYA) and water (WTR) by using successive Soxhlet extraction method. Further, the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities were assessed by the spectrophotometric method and possible bioactive phytoconstituents from the hydro alcohol extract of Heterospathe elata leaves using GC/MS. In our study, it was found that the GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of nineteen bioactive phytoconstituents. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the water extract. In antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory activity highest potential was shown by hydro alcohol extract and the lowest was in the dimethyl carbonate extract. These findings support the Heterospathe elata leaves showed the high biological potential attributed to a high amount of bioactive phytoconstituents and could be utilized as value-added functional food and medicine.     

Diversity in Phytochemical Composition and Medicinal Value of Murraya paniculata

Murraya paniculata is herbal medicinal plant which is traditionally being used for management of cardiovascular, intestinal and respiratory (air way) disorders. This evergreen plant of tropical regions is a member of Rutaceace family. The goal of this review is to analyze and report the biological activities and active phytochemicals reported from Murraya paniculata (M. paniculata) extracts and essential oil. The data was searched using different search engines and using specific key words including M. paniculata, herbal medicine, phytochemicals, extract, essential oil, pharmacological activities. M. paniculata has been found to have wide range of pharmacological activities, including antinociceptive, antianxiety, antioxidant, antidepressant, antibacterial, analgesic and anti-diabetic properties. A diverse range of phytochemicals, including phenols, coumarins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and alkaloids have been isolated from various portions of the plant and tested for a variety of biological activities. This review will provide more information and stimulate additional research to develop more effective and cost-efficient alternative medicine from this plant.     

Bioactive Saponins from Allium and Aster Plants

Plants belonging to the genera Allium and Aster are widely distributed in nature and have been used as food and/or medicine. Their wide use was mainly due to the medicinal properties attributed to these plants since ancient times, recently supported by epidemiological and laboratory studies. Saponin compounds, responsible for many pharmacological activities, are quite abundant in these plants. Thus, a deep knowledge about the saponin composition of these vegetables appears to be essential and could promote the discovery of new potential leads. As part of our continuing research aimed at the identification of bioactive metabolites, we have addressed our attention to several Allium and Aster species. The study resulted in the isolation of over fifty saponins of furostane, spirostane, cholestane, and oleane-type structures. Some of the isolated compounds exhibited promising antiproliferative, antifungal, and antispasmodic activities. Their structure, distribution and bioactivity will be reported here together with a brief overview of the literature on Allium and Aster saponins.     

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Gynostemma pentaphyllum

In traditional Chinese medicine, Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino is a herbal drug of extreme versatility and has been extensively researched in China. The dammarane saponins isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, namely gypenosides or gynosaponins, are believed to be the active components responsible for its various biological activities and reported clinical effects. This review attempts to encompass the available literature on Gynostemma pentaphyllum, from its cultivation to the isolation of its chemical entities and a summary of its diverse pharmacological properties attributed to its gypenoside content. Other aspects such as toxicology and pharmacokinetics are also discussed. In vitro and in vivo evidence suggests that Gynostemma pentaphyllum may complement the popular herbal medicine, Panax ginseng, as it also contains a high ginsenoside content and exhibits similar biological activities.     

Inhibitory effect of the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolC gene on rabdosiin and rosmarinic acid production in Eritrichium sericeum and Lithospermum erythrorhizon transformed cell cultures

Rabdosiin and related caffeic acid metabolites have been proposed as active pharmacological agents demonstrating potent anti-HIV and antiallergic activities. We transformed Eritrichium sericeum and Lithospermum erythrorhizon seedlings by the rolC gene, which has been recently described as an activator of plant secondary metabolism. Surprisingly, the rolC-transformed cell cultures of both plants yielded two- to threefold less levels of rabdosiin and rosmarinic acid (RA) than respective control cultures. This result establishes an interesting precedent when the secondary metabolites are differently regulated by a single gene. We show that the rolC gene affects production of rabdosiin and RA irrespective of the methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-mediated and the Ca²⁺-dependent NADPH oxidase pathways. Cantharidin, an inhibitor of serine/threonine phosphatases, partly diminishes the rolC-gene inhibitory effect that indicates involvement of the rolC-gene-mediated signal in plant regulatory controls, mediated by protein phosphatases. We also show that the control MeJA-stimulated E. sericeum root culture produces (–)-rabdosiin up to 3.41% dry weight, representing the highest level of this substance for plant cell cultures reported so far.     

Azadirachta indica (neem): a plant of multiple biological and pharmacological activities

Azadirachta indica, commonly called neem or ‘dogonyaro’ in Nigeria, is a plant that has found varied use in ecological, medicinal and agricultural sectors. Biological and pharmacological activities attributed to different parts and extracts of these plants include antiplasmodial, antitrypanosomal, antioxidant, anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, larvicidal and fungicidal activities. Others include antiulcer, spermicidal, anthelminthic, antidiabetic, anti-implantation, immunomodulating, molluscicidal, nematicidal, immunocontraceptive, insecticidal, antifeedant and insect repellant effects. But toxicological activities such as allergic, genotoxic, cytogenetic and radiosensitizing effects have also been reported in humans and some economic animals, particularly, aquatic organisms, chicks and goats. Bioassay-guided studies and phytochemical analyses utilizing modern state-of-the-art techniques such as HPLC–MS, GC–MS, NMR and Infra Red spectroscopy have revealed that phytocompounds like azadirachtins, nimocinol, isomeldenin, azadirachtol (a tetranortriterpernoid), 2,3′-dehydrosalanol gedunin, nimbin, nimolicinol, odoratone, azadironolide, isoazadironolide, naheedin and mahmoodin are responsible for the varied biological, pharmacological and toxicological properties observed. In this paper, we review how a developing country like Nigeria can harness the numerous opportunities presented by the multi-biological and multi-pharmacological nature of A. indica to solve some of her myriad problems, including those in the agricultural, health and economic sectors.     

Ecological niche of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus neoformans</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">grubii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus gattii</Emphasis> in decaying wood of trunk hollows of living trees in Jabalpur City of Central India

Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and C. gattii were repeatedly isolated from decaying wood of trunk hollows in living trees growing in Jabalpur City in Central India. The isolation of C.␣gattii has been reported from decayed wood inside trunk hollow of Tamarindus indica (15.6%), Mangifera indica (2.2%), Pithecolobium dulce (12.5%), Syzygium cumini (14%), and one from bark of S.␣cumini. C. n. var. grubii was isolated from decaying wood debris of T. indica (4.4%), M. indica (13.3%), Terminalia arjuna (25%), S. cumini (2%), Cassia fistula (4.5%), and two from bark of S. cumini. The two varieties never co-occurred in the same hollow. C. gattii and C. n. var. grubii isolates belonged to serotype B and serotype A respectively. The data strongly supported the colonization of the pathogen in␣decaying wood hollow of all six-tree species. Evidence of this was found by repeated isolation up to 820 days. P. dulce is being reported for the first time as natural habitat of C. gattii and T.␣arjuna and C. fistula as natural habitat for C. n. var. grubii. M. indica is being reported for the second time as the natural habitat of both varieties (C. n. var. grubii and C. gattii). The population density of these pathogens from decaying wood debris of various tree species ranged between 0.5 × 10³ cells/g and 6 × 10⁵ cells/g. The seasonal variation has been seen in isolation of this yeast. Our result further reinforce the recently emerging evidence that the natural habitat of C. n. var. grubii and C. gattii is more generalized.     

Devil’s Claw (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Harpagophytum procumbens</Emphasis>): An Anti-Inflammatory Herb with Therapeutic Potential

Extracts of the secondary roots of the southern African plant, Devil’s Claw (Harpagophytum procumbens) provide a herbal drug with a variety of traditional indications. One area of its use that has become very popular in recent years is in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the musculoskeletal system and of low back pain. There have been several clinical studies recently published that generally support its use in treating osteoarthritis although more studies are required in order to establish this drug as a definite therapeutic option. Here in this review, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw are reviewed in detail and the clinical evidence is briefly summarised. There is good in vitro and in vivo pharmacological evidence of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of this drug, although some negative findings have also been reported. Generally, the pharmacological properties of Devil’s Claw is supportive of its therapeutic potential, but more evidence from clinically relevant models, as well as at the cellular and molecular level, should be sought. Such studies may provide evidence in support of additional indications, both traditional and novel. The clinical data on Devil’s Claw is also very promising.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> antileishmanial activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aloe vera</Emphasis> leaf exudate: A potential herbal therapy in leishmaniasis

Aloe vera has wide spread use in health products, and despite several reports on the whole plant and inner gel, little work has been performed on the leaf exudate. Our aim was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of Aloe vera leaf exudate (AVL) in leishmaniasis. Irrespective of the disease manifestation, promastigotes from strains responsible for cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral leishmaniasis were susceptible to AVL and their IC₅₀ ranged from 100 to 180 μg/ml. In axenic amastigotes cultured from a L. donovani strain 2001 responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, the IC₅₀ was 6.0 μg/ml. AVL caused activation of host macrophages evident by an increased release of members of reactive oxygen species that was attenuated by preincubation with free radical scavengers. Collectively, our data indicates that AVL, via its direct leishmanicidal activity which can be further enhanced by activation of host macrophages, is an effective antileishmanial agent meriting further pharmacological investigations.     

Triterpene-based plant defenses

Pentacyclic triterpenes are abundant in the plant kingdom and have a wide array of pharmacological activities. They also have insect antifeedant effects and therefore apparently play a role in plant defense. In this paper, we describe the insecticidal activity of pentacyclic triterpenes of plant origin from different chemical classes on several insect pests (Spodoptera littoralis, Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Myzus persicae), their phytotoxic properties and their selective cytotoxic effects on insect-derived Sf9 and mammalian CHO cells. We also discuss the role they play in plant defense based on these activities.     

Enhancing biological control of basal stem rot disease (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma boninense</Emphasis>) in oil palm plantations

Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense is the most destructive disease in oil palm, especially in Indonesia and Malaysia. The available control measures for BSR disease such as cultural practices and mechanical and chemical treatment have not proved satisfactory due to the fact that Ganoderma has various resting stages such as melanised mycelium, basidiospores and pseudosclerotia. Alternative control measures to overcome the Ganoderma problem are focused on the use of biological control agents and planting resistant material. Present studies conducted at Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute (IOPRI) are focused on enhancing the use of biological control agents for Ganoderma. These activities include screening biological agents from the oil palm rhizosphere in order to evaluate their effectiveness as biological agents in glasshouse and field trials, testing their antagonistic activities in large scale experiments and eradicating potential disease inoculum with biological agents. Several promising biological agents have been isolated, mainly Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, Gliocladium viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus sp. A glasshouse and field trial for Ganoderma control indicated that treatment with T. harzianum and G. viride was superior to Bacillus sp. A large scale trial showed that the disease incidence was lower in a field treated with biological agents than in untreated fields. In a short term programme, research activities at IOPRI are currently focusing on selecting fungi that can completely degrade plant material in order to eradicate inoculum. Digging holes around the palm bole and adding empty fruit bunches have been investigated as ways to stimulate biological agents.     

Antibacterial activities of essential oils from eight Greek aromatic plants against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

Aromatic plants have been used widely to extend the shelf life of foods but at the same time research is undergoes for their properties as antibacterial agents in clinical use. Although there are promising results for the antimicrobial properties of various essential oils against environmental or food-isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, limited work has been done concerning these properties against clinical isolates of this pathogen. S. aureus is responsible for an increase number of nosocomial infections and at the same time exhibits increased resistance to synthetic agents.In this study, essential oils from eight aromatic plants common in Greece were isolated by hydrodistillation, analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for their chemical components and tested for their antimicrobial activities against 24 clinical isolates of S. aureus. The methods used were disk diffusion and broth dilution in order to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC).Our results showed that essential oils from Origanum vulgare and Origanum dictamnus were active against S. aureus when tested by disk diffusion, but exhibited increased MIC values (>256 mg/L) with the dilution method. In contrast, the reference strain NCTC 6571 showed to be extremely sensitive in most of the oils tested (MICs 0.25−32.0 mg/L) and resistant only to the essential oil from Ocimum basilicum. Therefore, there is no evidence of a potential clinical use for those essential oils and further research is needed in order to determine if they could substitute efficiently synthetic antibiotics or, perhaps be used in combination.