In vitro and in vivo investigation of natural compounds from seed extract of Mucuna pruriens lacking L-DOPA for treatment of erectile dysfunction

Objective:To investigate the biological effects of the Mucuna pruriens(M.pruriens)seed extracts that lacked of L-DOPA,which was formerly reported as the active ingredient,on erectile dysfunction(ED)both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:Seed of M.pruriens plant that cultivated in Mae Taeng District,Chiang Mai Province,Thailand,was collected.Component of its seeds were extracted and isolated into 2 fractions using methanol,polar and nonpolar.Each fraction was investigated for phytochemicals using GC/MS and was screened for biological activity In vitro using three different cell lines.The most biological active fraction was used to treat to both steptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus-erectile dysfunction(DM-ED)male wistar rats and normal rats(n=6 per groups)to compare the effect on sexual behaviour parameters,including number of intromission,mounting and ejaculation,with that of rats given Sildenafil by individually pairing with their female counterparts.Penile tissues and serums were collected to determine histological structure,related gene expression and biomolecules.Results:The phytochemicals of the polar fraction were possibly catechol and its derivatives plus polyphenols,whereas the nonpolar fraction consisted of lipid derivatives.L-DOPA was not detected in either of the extracts.The polar fraction was able to up-regulate the expression of ED-related genes including e NOS and n NOS in vitro which subsequently promotes NO production and maintains intracellular cG MP levels.When administrated to DM-ED rats,the polar extract significantly improved all sexual behaviour parameters in DM-ED rats compare to untreated group(18.3±1.8 to 10.8±2.9 for intromission,9.8±2.2 to 5.7±1.3 for mounting,and 1.8±0.6 to 0.2±0.4 for ejaculation).That effect might due to the ability of the extract to stimulate the expression of eN OS and nN OS which results in NO production and subsequently maintains cG MP levels in penile tissue.Moreover,this extract may also prevent penile tissue deterioration due to diabetes.Conclusions:The polar extract of M.pruriens seed can be used for ED therapy,especially in patients with metabolic diseases including diabetes.The action of the extract might be due to catechol and its derivatives and polyphenols.

Adsorptive Treatment of Textile Wastewater Using Activated Carbon Produced from Mucuna pruriens Seed Shells

Mucuna pruriens seed shells (abundantly available agricultural waste) were processed, treated and activated using 60% orthophosphoric acid for removal of congo red and malachite green from an aqueous solution. Its physicochemical properties and its removal efficiencies on the textile dyes were determined. The effect of particle size, adsorbent dose, initial pH of solution, adsorbate concentration and contact time on the process of adsorption was investigated. The equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of the dyes removal were also investigated. The experi-mental data were modeled using linear regression method of analysis. The correlation coefficient was used as a criterion for model adequacy and acceptance. Sum of squares error was used to val-idate the isotherm models. The pseudo second-order kinetic model was found to best correlate the experimental data. The intraparticle diffusion is not the only rate controlling step in the process. The experimental data were found to follow the Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin isotherm models. The negative free energy indicated that the adsorption processes were spontaneously feasible. The process of adsorption has been found to be endothermic in nature. The removal of malachite green was found to be more spontaneous and feasible than the removal of congo red on the adsorbent. From the study it was deduced that the Mucuna pruriens seed shells activated with phosphoric acid were found to be a good adsorbent for the treatment of textile wastewater con-taining congo red and malachite green.

Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) in antitubercular drugs and alcohol models

AIM: Hepatotoxicity is a significantly increasing health problem worldwide, and the extent of the problem has stimulated interest in the search for hepatotherapeutic agents from plants. This study investigated the hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves in antitubercular and alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity assays in rats. METHOD: In each of the models used, seven groups were allotted. The different groups received normal saline(10 mL·kg-1, p.o.); hepatotoxicant(isoniazid-rifampicin, INH-RIF, 100 mg·kg-1, i.p. or 20% ethanol 5 g·kg-1, p.o.) and normal saline(10 mL·kg-1, p.o.); hepatotoxicant and extract at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg·kg-1 p.o.; hepatotoxicant and silymarin 50 mg·kg-1 p.o.; and extract at 400 mg·kg-1 p.o.. On the 21st day of treatment, blood was collected for assessment of serum biochemical parameters and harvested liver samples were assessed for antioxidants. RESULTS: The hepatotoxicants significantly(P < 0.05-0.001) increased the levels of alanine transaminase(ALT), aspartate transaminase(AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), bilirubin, and malondialdehyde(MDA); and reduced the levels of catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione peroxidase(GPx), and reduced glutathione GSH compared to control. M. pruriens significantly reversed(P < 0.05-0.001) the elevation in the level of ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin caused by the hepatotoxicants. The extract(200 and 400 mg·kg-1) significantly reversed(P < 0.05) the diminution in the level of in vivo antioxidants and increased the level of MDA produced by INH-RIF. M. pruriens(100-400 mg·kg-1) elicited significant reduction(P < 0.001) in the level of MDA compared to the alcohol group. Silymarin also reversed the deleterious effects of the hepatotoxicants. CONCLUSION: The hydroethanolic extract of Mucuna pruriens leaves possesses hepatoprotective activity with enhancement of in vivo antioxidants as a possible mechanism of action.