Medicinal uses,phytochemistry and pharmacology of Picralima nitida(Apocynaceae) in tropical diseases:A review

Picralima nitida Durand and Hook,(fam.Apocynaceae)is a West African plant with varied applications in African folk medicine.Various parts of the plant have been employed ethnomedicinally as remedy for fever,hypertension,jaundice,dysmenorrheal,gastrointestinal disorders and malaria.In order to reveal its full pharmacological and therapeutic potentials,die present review focuses on the current medicinal uses,phytochemistry,pharmacological and toxicological activities of this species.Literature survey on scientific journals,books as well as electronic sources have shown the isolation of alkaloids,tannins,polyphenols and steroids from different parts of the plant,pharmacological studies revealed that the extract or isolated compounds from this species posses analgesic,anti-inflammatory,hypoglyceamic,hypotensive,antiplasmodial,antimicrobial,antiulcer and antitumorigenic activities.Results from various scientific investigations to date have revealed the potential of the extract from the plant or isolated compounds for use in the treatment and prevention of various kinds of human diseases.However,further studies on the extracts and pure compounds from this species is required to completely assess its phytoc-hemical,pharmacological and toxicological profile as well as the mechanism of action behind these pharmacological activities exhibited by the compounds isolated from this species.

Synergistic effects of ethnomedicinal plants of Apocynaceae family and antibiotics against clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of 17 ethnomedicinal plants belonging to Apocynaceae family used in combination with 16 conventional antibiotics against non-multidrug resistant-,multidrug resistant(MDR)-.and extensive drug resistant(XDR) Acinetobacter baumannii(A.haumannii).Methods:Antibacterial activity and resistance modifying ability of 272combinations were determined by growth inhibition assays and further confirmed by time-kill assay.Results:Among the combinations of the antibiotics with Apocynaceae ethanol extracts on this pathogen,15(5%) had synergistic effects,23(8%) had partial synergistic effects and 234(86%) had no effects.Synergistic activity was observed mostly when the Apocynaceae extracts were combined with rifampicin or cefazolin.Interestingly.10 out of 17 combinations between the extracts and rifampicin displayed synergistic or partial synergistic behaviors.Holarrhena antidysenterica extract was additionally tested to restore rifampicin activity against clinical isolates of MDR and XDR A.haumannii.With respect to total or partial synergy,70%was XDR A.haumannii isolates and 66%was MDR A.haumannii isolates.Conclusions:Holarrhena antidysenterica extract clearly demonstrated the ability to restore rifampicin activity against both A.haumannii ATCC19606 and clinically isolated A.haumannii.Additional studies examining its active principles as well as nieclianisms of actions such as the effects on efflux pumps and outer membrane permeability alterations are recommended.

The Genus Melodinus (Apocynaceae): Chemical and Pharmacological Perspectives

The plants of the genus Melodinus (Apocynaceae) are widely distributed, and have long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments such as meningitis in children and rheumatic heart diseases, hernia, infantile malnutrition, dyspepsia and testitis. Over 100 alkaloids together with flavonoids, lignans, steroids, terpenoids and coumarins have been identified in the genus, and many of these have been evaluated for biological activity. This review presents comprehensive information on the chemistry and pharmacology of the genus together with the traditional uses of many of its plants. In addition, this review discusses the structure-activity relationship of different compounds as well as recent developments and the scope for future research in this aspect.

Identification of medicinal plants within the Apocynaceae family using ITS2 and psbA-trnH barcodes

To ensure the safety of medications,it is vital to accurately authenticate species of the Apocynaceae family,which is rich in poisonous medicinal plants.We identified Apocynaceae species by using nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2(ITS2)and psb Atrn H based on experimental data.The identification ability of ITS2 and psb A-trn H was assessed using specific genetic divergence,BLAST1,and neighbor-joining trees.For DNA barcoding,ITS2 and psb A-trn H regions of 122 plant samples of 31 species from 19 genera in the Apocynaceae family were amplified.The PCR amplification for ITS2 and psb A-trn H sequences was 100%.The sequencing success rates for ITS2 and psb A-trn H sequences were 81%and 61%,respectively.Additional data involved 53 sequences of the ITS2 region and 38 sequences of the psb A-trn H region were downloaded from Gen Bank.Moreover,the analysis showed that the interspecific divergence of Apocynaceae species was greater than its intra-specific variations.The results indicated that,using the BLAST1 method,ITS2 showed a high identification efficiency of 97%and 100%of the samples at the species and genus levels,respectively,via BLAST1,and psb A-trn H successfully identified 95%and 100%of the samples at the species and genus levels,respectively.The barcode combination of ITS2/psb A-trn H successfully identified 98%and 100%of samples at the species and genus levels,respectively.Subsequently,the neighbor joining tree method also showed that barcode ITS2 and psb A-trn H could distinguish among the species within the Apocynaceae family.ITS2 is a core barcode and psb A-trn H is a supplementary barcode for identifying species in the Apocynaceae family.These results will help to improve DNA barcoding reference databases for herbal drugs and other herbal raw materials.

Apocynaceae species with antiproliferative and/or antiplasmodial properties: a review of ten genera

Apocynaceae is a large family of tropical trees, shrubs and vines with most species producing white latex. Major metabolites of species are triterpenoids, iridoids, alkaloids and cardenolides, which are known for a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities such as cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antimalarial properties. Prompted by their anticancer and antimalarial properties, the current knowledge on ten genera （Allamanda, Alstonia, Calotropis, Catharanthus, Cerbera, Dyera, Kopsia, Nerium, Plumeria and Vallaris） is updated. Major classes of metabolites are described using some species as examples. Species with antiproliferative （APF） and/ or antiplasmodial （APM） properties have been identified. With the exception of the genus Dyera, nine genera of 22 species possess APF activity. Seven genera （Alstonia, Calotropis, Catharanthus, Dyera, Kopsia, Plumeria and Vallaris） of 13 species have APM properties. Among these species, Alstonia angustiloba, Alstonia macrophylla, Calotropis gigantea, Calotropis procera, Catharanthus roseus, Plumeria alba and Vallaris glabra displayed both APF and APM properties. The chemical constituents of these seven species are compiled for assessment and further research.

Fate of rubber bush (Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton) in adversary environment modulated by microstructural and functional attributes

Calotropis procera(Aiton)W.T.Aiton,belonging to the family Apocynaceae,is C3 evergreen plant species in arid and semi-arid areas of the Punjab Province,Pakistan.It grows in a variety of habitats like salt affected and waterlogged area,desert/semi-desert,roadside,wasteland,graveyard,forest,crop field,coastline,and river/canal bank.A total of 12 populations growing in different ecological regions were sampled to evaluate their growth,physio-biochemical,and anatomical responses to specific environmental condition.Population adapted to desert/semi-desert showed vigorous growth(plant height,shoot length,and number of leaves),enhanced photosynthetic level(chlorophyll a,chlorophyll b,carotenoids,and total chlorophyll),and apparent anatomical modifications such as increased stem radius,cuticle thickness,storage parenchyma tissues(cortex and pith),and vascular bundles in stems,while the maximum of midrib and lamina thickness,epidermal cells,cuticle thickness,cortical proportion,abaxial stomatal density,and its area in leaves.There was high plasticity in structural and functional features of these populations,which enable them to survive and tolerate under such hot and dry desert environment.Population of saline areas exhibited very critical modifications to sustain under salt prone environment.At physiological level,it possesses the maximum amount of organic osmolytes(glycine betaine and proline)and antioxidants(superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and peroxidase(POD)),while at anatomical level,it showed intensive sclerification,large phloem region(inner and outer),pith parenchyma cells,and metaxylem vessels in stems and leaves.The population of dry mountains showed very distinctive features,such as increased shoot ionic contents(K+and Ca2+),collenchyma and sclerenchyma thickness in stems,trichomes size,and numerous small stomata on abaxial surface of leaves.It is concluded that no definite or precise single character can be taken as a yardstick for adjudging the biomass production in this rubber bush weed population.

Two New Monoterpene Diglycosides from Winchia calophylla A.DC

Two new monoterpene diglycosides, wincaloside A (1) and wincaloside B (2), along with loganin (3) were isolated from the stem barks of Winchia calophylla A. DC. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by spectroscopic and chemical methods.

Monoterpenoid indole alkaloids from Alstonia rostrata

Four new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids,alstrostines C-F together with thirteen known alkaloids were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Alstonia rostrata.All structures of new compounds were elucidated based on NMR,FTIR,UV,and MS spectroscopic data.Alstrostines C-E might originate from keto-enol tautomerism of preakummicine during biogenetic pathway of akummicine.

A Novel Cardiac Glycoside from Parepigynum funingesis

From the dried aerial part of Parepigynum funingesis Tsiang et P. T. Li (Apocynaceae), a new cardiac glucoside, named parefuningoside (1) had been isolated. Its structure was determined by means of hydrolysis and spectral analysis.

Three New Indole Alkaloids from Tabernaemontana divaricata

Three new monoterpene indole alkaloids,3a-hydroxymethyl-ibogamine(1),3a-acetatemethoxyl-ibogamine(2),16a-hy-droxyl-ibogamine(3)together with six known alkaloids were isolated from the branches and leaves of Tabernaemontana divaricata(Apocynaceae).The structures of these alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic analyses.All isolated compounds showed no significant cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 gastric cancer,HeLa,and A-549 lung cancer cell lines(IC50>20μM).

The Genus Carissa:An Ethnopharmacological,Phytochemical and Pharmacological Review

Carissa L.is a genus of the family Apocynaceae,with about 36 species as evergreen shrubs or small trees native to tropical and subtropical regions of Africa,Asia and Oceania.Most of Carissa plants have been employed and utilized in traditional medicine for various ailments,such as headache,chest complains,rheumatism,oedema,gonorrhoea,syphilis,rabies.So far,only nine Carissa species have been phytochemically studied,which led to the identification of 123 compounds including terpenes,flavonoids,lignans,sterols,simple phenolic compounds,fatty acids and esters,and so on.Pharmacological studies on Carissa species have also indicated various bioactive potentials.This review covers the peer-reviewed articles between 1954 and 2016,retrieved from Pubmed,ScienceDirect,SciFmder,Wikipedia and Baidu,using“Carissa”as search term(“all fields”)and with no specific time frame set for search.Fifteen important medicinal or ornamental Carissa species were selected and summarized on their botanical characteristics,geographical distribution,traditional uses,phytochemistry,and pharmacological activities.

Chemistry and bioactivities of natural steroidal alkaloids

Steroidal alkaloids possess the basic steroidal skeleton with a nitrogen atom in rings or side chains incorporated as an integral part of the molecule.They have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities,and some of them have even been developed as therapeutic drugs,such as abiraterone acetate(Zytiga®),a blockbuster drug,which has been used for the treatment of prostate cancer.Structurally diverse natural steroidal alkaloids present a wide spectrum of biological activities,which are attractive for natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry communities.This review comprehensively covers the structural classification,isolation and various biological activities of 697 natural steroidal alkaloids discovered from 1926 to October 2021,with 363 references being cited.

Two New Oxindole Alkaloids from Ervatamia yunnanensis

Two new oxindole alkaloids. 17-demethoxy-hydroisorhynchophylline 1 and 17-demethoxy-hydroisorhynchophylline N-oxide 2, have been isolated from the aerial parts of Ervatamin yunnanensis, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.

Three New Pyridine Alkaloids from Vinca major Cultivated in Pakistan

Three new pyridine type alkaloids,(-)-vinmajpyridines A–C(1–3),along with two known alkaloids,have been isolated from the aerial parts of Vinca major cultivated in Pakistan.Their structures have been elucidated by means of NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data.The new alkaloids were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against glioma initiating cell lines(GITC-3#and GITC-18#),glioblastoma cell lines(U-87MG and T98G),and lung cancer cell line A-549,but none of them was active at 20 lg/mL concentration.

DNA Barcoding of Nigeria’s Forest Species Listed in CITES and Other Endangered Plant Species of National Interest

Illegal trade is considered one of the greatest threats to the loss of biodiversity of endangered plants. Some of these plant species are often trafficked in processed forms, making it extremely difficult for taxonomic experts to identify them. In the past, illegal traders of endangered species have been arrested and prosecuted but eventually cleared due to a lack of conclusive evidence. DNA barcoding is a veritable tool to protect these endangered species from illegal trade. It identifies all stages of the species’ life forms including processed products (milled or powdered animal and plant parts). The study utilised the rbcL gene as a single barcode region in the identification/authentication of 19 Nigeria’s endangered forest species legislated under the CITES and other endangered species of national interest. The generated sequence barcodes were used to query NCBI-GenBank and BOLD databases. 57.89% of the samples were identified down to species level and 42.11% to genus level. Amongst the 19 samples, sample (S7) yielded a high-quality sequence for a single sequencing read (forward), sufficient to identify the sample with a 99.81% identity match on NCBI-GenBank and BOLD. The results reveal that the rbcL single barcode efficiently identified most of the sampled plants;this supports the potential utilisation of DNA barcoding in the accurate detection and conservation of CITES-listed plants in Nigeria. The study documented the CITES-listed plants and other essential plants endangered or threatened plants in Nigeria and provided the first chloroplast DNA reference dataset to support the utilisation of DNA barcoding to identify CITES-listed plant species in Nigeria, which is significant for future studies.

Antileishmanial Assay and Antimicrobial Activity on Crude Extracts of <i>Melodinus eugeniifolus</i>Barks and Leaves from Malaysia

Melodinus eugeniifolus, a very rare medical plant which belongs to the family of Apocynaceae, has just been discovered in the Malaysia rain forest. Six different extracts of Melodinus eugeniifolus (a very rare medical plant belongs to Apocynaceae) leaves and barks were screened for the in vitro antileishmanial and antibacterial activities, among the different extracts tested, the ethanol and hexane extract of barks showed significant antileishmanial activities with IC50 value of 159.9 μg/ml and 270.3 μg/ml. All the extracts displayed remarkable antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli. Highlights: Melodinus eugeniifolus, a very rare medical plant from South Asian rain forest which may be a potential drug for many diseases is first reported its antileishmanial and antimicrobial activities.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activity Determination on Crude Extracts of <i>Melodinus eugeniifolus</i>Barks and Leaves from Malaysia

Six different extracts of Melodinus eugeniifolus (a very rare medical plant belonging to Apocynaceae) leaves and barks were screened for their phytochemical composition, and free radical scavenging activities. Three different methods were used to test the antioxidant activity for extracts which include FRAP assay (Ferric reducing antioxidant potential), DPPH radical scavenging assay (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical reducing power methods), and β-carotene bleaching assay. Among the different extracts tested, the ethanol extract of barks showed significant radical scavenging activities. Phytochemical analysis of the extracts revealed that the radical scavenging activities are mainly due to the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, sterols, steroids and flavonoids. The results obtained suggest that Melodinus eugeniifolus could be exploited in the management of various diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infection diseases. Highlights: Melodinus eugeniifolus, a very rare medical plant from South Asian rain forest which may be a potential drug for many diseases is first reported about its phytochemical characteristics and antioxidant activity by different methods.

Morpho-Taxonomic Study Based on Wild Weed Plant Species Calotropis procera (Aiton)—Whole Plant

This work is an attempt to make a taxonomic study on Calotropis procera plant in Tehama area, Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia. Al-Baha Province is divided by huge and steep Rocky Mountains into two main sectors, a lowland coastal plain at the west, known as “Tihama” and a mountainous area with an elevation of (1500) to (2450) m above sea level at the east, known as “Al-Sarat or Al-Sarah” which form a part of Al-Sarawat Mountains range. The study included a scientific description of the family Apocynaceae and the scientific classification of the species Calotropis procera. Botanical names, synonyms and vernacular names (Local names) were presented. Botanical description is determined depending on its vegetative, floral and fruit characteristics. Notes on habitats and distribution were provided. The plant species has been illustrated by photos in its habitat. Chemical components, medicinal properties and local uses were included. The study revealed that Calotropis procera is widely spread throughout the study area and it has great medicinal importance, so it requires more comprehensive studies for identification. The study aims to: (Number one is deleted). 1) Determine the distribution and habits of the species Calotropis procera. 2) Provide medicinal properties and local uses of Calotropis procera. The method was recorded due to Dr. Jacob Thomas, Herbarium Dept., College of Science, King Saud University. Authors recommend recent accurate techniques such as DNA fingerprinting to identify the species. More Biochemical studies on the effective chemical compounds are required for the medicinal importance of the plant.

Agrobacterium-mediated transient transformation of Pentalinon andrieuxii Müll.Arg.

Sections of hypocotyls, roots and leaves from Pentalinon andrieuxii plantlets were transiently transformed with Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 bearing the binary plasmid pCAMBIA2301 with an interrupted β-Glucuronidase (GUS) gene. Histochemical GUS assays showed transient gene expression in all infected tissues, being older roots those which displayed the most intense GUS staining. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Pentalinon andrieuxii susceptibility to Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation.

Components of Stem Barks of Winchia calophylla A. DC. and Their Bronchodilator Activities

Abstract: The Dai medicinal plant Winchia calophylla A. DC. (Apocynaceae) has efficacy as an anti-cough and anti-asthmatic medication. In order to investigate its relative bioactive components, we studied the chemical constituents of this plant. Using repeated column chromatography, 28 compounds, including loganin, six phenolic compounds, 17 indole alkaloids, three pyridine alkaloids, and a quinoline alkaloid, were isolated from the stem barks of W. calophylla. Loganin, paeonol, N (4)-methyl akuammicine, and cantleyine exhibited a moderate relaxation effect on isolated smooth muscles of guinea-pig tracheal spirals and lung strips and may be the bioactive components responsible for the bronchodilation produced by W. calophylla.