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Bhattacharyya J, Saikia L, Kalita V, Dutta PP. An Updated Review on the Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Phyllanthus Genus. Chem Biodivers 2025:e202402483. [PMID: 40271556 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202402483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/25/2025]
Abstract
The Phyllanthus genus, known for its therapeutic efficacy in traditional and folk medicine, has been extensively investigated for its anti-inflammatory properties. This review systematically evaluates the existing literature on various Phyllanthus species, with a focus on their potential as medicinal agents for managing inflammatory conditions. Notably, extracts, fractions and bioactive phytoconstituents, predominantly phenolic derivatives and cleistanthane-type diterpenoids from species such as Phyllanthus emblica, Phyllanthus niruri, Phyllanthus amarus, Phyllanthus acidus, Phyllanthus muellerianus, Phyllanthus reticulatus, Phyllanthus rheophyticus, Phyllanthus fraternus, Phyllanthus glaucus, Phyllanthus urinaria, Phyllanthus nivosus and Phyllanthus orbicularis, have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. These effects are primarily facilitated through the reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, inhibition of prostaglandin and nitric oxide synthesis, inhibition of inflammatory mediators such as COX-2, NOX, and LOX, and increase the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, the suppression of inflammation is achieved via the modulation of critical signalling pathways, including NF-κB, Nrf2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Despite these promising findings, limited clinical studies assessing the anti-inflammatory efficacy of Phyllanthus species, underscoring the need for rigorous future research to fully elucidate their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lunasmrita Saikia
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Assam down town University, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Violina Kalita
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Assam down town University, Guwahati, Assam, India
- Department of Pharmaceutics, NEF College of Pharmacy, Guwahati, Assam, India
| | - Partha Pratim Dutta
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Assam down town University, Guwahati, Assam, India
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Johnson TO, Adegboyega AE, Johnson GI, Umedum NL, Bamidele OD, Elekan AO, Tarkaa CT, Mahe A, Abdulrahman A, Adeyemi OE, Okafor D, Yusuf AJ, Atewolara-Odule OC, Ogunmoye AO, Ishaya T. Uncovering the inhibitory potentials of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf and its bioactive compounds against Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase for malaria therapy. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:9787-9796. [PMID: 36411736 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2146750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Malaria control efforts have been hampered due to the emergence of resistant malaria parasite strains and the coinciding events of Covid-19. The quest for more effective and safe treatment alternatives is driving a slew of new studies that must be accelerated if malaria can be overcome. Due to its reported antimalarial activity, we studied the effects of extract and fractions of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf on Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) activity using an in vitro assay. This was followed by an anti-plasmodial study using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice and an in silico identification of the plant's phytochemicals with possible pLDH-inhibitory activity. The activity of pLDH was significantly reduced in the presence of ethanol extract and various solvent fractions of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf, with the ethyl acetate fraction having the best inhibitory activity, which was comparable to that of the standard drug (chloroquine). The ethyl acetate fraction at 100 and 200 mg/Kg also suppressed the parasitaemia of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice by 76 and 80% respectively. Among the 53 compounds docked against pLDH, (-)-alpha-Cadinol, (+)-alpha-phellandrene, and spathulenol, all terpenes from the ethyl acetate fraction of P. nivosus leaf extract, demonstrated docking scores comparable to that of chloroquine. The three chemicals, like chloroquine, displayed important molecular interactions with the amino acid residues of the enzyme's NADH-binding site. According to the in silico ADMET study, the three terpenes have suitable drug-like abilities, pharmacokinetic features, and safety profiles. Hence, they could be considered for further development as antimalarial drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titilayo Omolara Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Abayomi Emmanuel Adegboyega
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Grace I Johnson
- Biotechnology Research Unit, Jaris Computational Biology Center, Jos, Nigeria
- College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Ngozi L Umedum
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
| | - Olasunkanmi D Bamidele
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Ayodele O Elekan
- Department of Biochemistry, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | - Christopher T Tarkaa
- Cell Biology and Genetics Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Asma'u Mahe
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria
| | - Adamu Abdulrahman
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Olugbenga E Adeyemi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Desmond Okafor
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Amina J Yusuf
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Tanko Ishaya
- Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
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Johnson TO, Adeyemi OE, Adegboyega AE, Olomu SA, Enokela F, Ibrahim S, Gwantu B, Afolayan B, Stephen K, Eseola AO, Plass W, Adeyemi OS. Elucidation of the anti-plasmodial activity of novel imidazole and oxazole compounds through computational and in vivo experimental approaches. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:9013-9021. [PMID: 36310100 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2139761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The development of resistance to conventional antimalarial therapies, along with the unfavorable impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global malaria fight, necessitates a greater focus on the search for more effective antimalarial drugs. Targeting a specific enzyme of the malaria parasite to alter its metabolic pathways is a reliable technique for finding antimalarial drug candidates. In this study, we used an in silico technique to test four novel imidazoles and an oxazole derivative for inhibitory potential against Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH), a unique glycolytic enzyme necessary for parasite survival and energy production. The promising imidazole compounds and the oxazole derivative were then tested for anti-plasmodial efficacy in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. With a binding energy of -6.593 kcal/mol, IM-3 had the best docking score against pLDH, which is close to that of NADH (-6.758 kcal/mol) and greater than that of chloroquine (-3.917 kcal/mol). The test compounds occupied the enzyme's NADH binding site, with IM-3 forming four hydrogen bonds with Thr-101, Pro-246, His-195 and Asn-140. Infected mice treatment with IM-3, IM-4 and OX-1 exhibited significantly reduced parasitemia over a four-day treatment period when compared to the infected untreated animals. At 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, IM-3 demonstrated the highest anti-plasmodial activity, suppressing parasitemia by 86.13, 97.71 and 94.11%, respectively. PCV levels were restored by IM-3 and IM-4, and the three selected compounds reduced the lipid peroxidation induced by P. berghei infection in mice. Thus, these compounds may be considered for further development as antimalarial medicines.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Segun Afolabi Olomu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Festus Enokela
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Sherifat Ibrahim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Bernard Gwantu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Bukola Afolayan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Kamo Stephen
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Abiodun Omokehinde Eseola
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Redeemer's University, Ede, Nigeria
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Winfried Plass
- Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Oluyomi Stephen Adeyemi
- Landmark University SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being Research Group), Landmark University, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, Medicinal Biochemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, Landmark University, Nigeria
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Ceravolo IP, Aguiar AC, Adebayo JO, Krettli AU. Studies on Activities and Chemical Characterization of Medicinal Plants in Search for New Antimalarials: A Ten Year Review on Ethnopharmacology. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:734263. [PMID: 34630109 PMCID: PMC8493299 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.734263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is an endemic disease that affected 229 million people and caused 409 thousand deaths, in 2019. Disease control is based on early diagnosis and specific treatment with antimalarial drugs since no effective vaccines are commercially available to prevent the disease. Drug chemotherapy has a strong historical link to the use of traditional plant infusions and other natural products in various cultures. The research based on such knowledge has yielded two drugs in medicine: the alkaloid quinine from Cinchona species, native in the Amazon highland rain forest in South America, and artemisinin from Artemisia annua, a species from the millenary Chinese medicine. The artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), proven to be highly effective against malaria parasites, and considered as “the last bullet to fight drug-resistant malaria parasites,” have limited use now due to the emergence of multidrug resistance. In addition, the limited number of therapeutic options makes urgent the development of new antimalarial drugs. This review focuses on the antimalarial activities of 90 plant species obtained from a search using Pubmed database with keywords “antimalarials,” “plants” and “natural products.” We selected only papers published in the last 10 years (2011–2020), with a further analysis of those which were tested experimentally in malaria infected mice. Most plant species studied were from the African continent, followed by Asia and South America; their antimalarial activities were evaluated against asexual blood parasites, and only one species was evaluated for transmission blocking activity. Only a few compounds isolated from these plants were active and had their mechanisms of action delineated, thereby limiting the contribution of these medicinal plants as sources of novel antimalarial pharmacophores, which are highly necessary for the development of effective drugs. Nevertheless, the search for bioactive compounds remains as a promising strategy for the development of new antimalarials and the validation of traditional treatments against malaria. One species native in South America, Ampelozyzyphus amazonicus, and is largely used against human malaria in Brazil has a prophylactic effect, interfering with the viability of sporozoites in in vitro and in vivo experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela P Ceravolo
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Anna C Aguiar
- Departamento de Biociência, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Joseph O Adebayo
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
| | - Antoniana U Krettli
- Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Johnson TO, Odoh KD, Nwonuma CO, Akinsanmi AO, Adegboyega AE. Biochemical evaluation and molecular docking assessment of the anti-inflammatory potential of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf against ulcerative colitis. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03893. [PMID: 32426537 PMCID: PMC7226661 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammation of the colon that can progress to colorectal cancer if left untreated. No medication completely cures UC and natural products are sources of alternative approaches. This study aimed to determine the anti-inflammatory potential of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf extract and fractions in a rat model of ulcerative colitis and to identify the active ingredients. UC was induced in rats by intra-rectal infusion of 1ml of 4% acetic acid (AA) in normal saline. AA exposed groups of rats were treated with 100 mg/kg bodyweight of methanol extract, hexane, ethyl-acetate and butanol fractions orally for four days. Another group received the standard drug - Dexamethasone and control rats were given distilled water only. Some biochemical changes were evaluated and the active ingredients were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) followed by molecular docking against interleukin-1-beta converting enzyme (Caspase-1), beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Exposure of rat colon to acetic acid significantly altered (p < 0.05) serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin - 6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxidation product (malondialdehyde or MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH); and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). These alterations were however restored in the rats treated with P. nivosus leaf with the ethyl-acetate fraction displaying the highest ameliorative activity. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed the presence of 40 compounds which when subjected to molecular docking demonstrated varying degrees of binding affinities for the protein targets. Ethyl iso-allocholate demonstrated the highest binding affinity for caspase-1, cholest-22-ene-21-ol, 3,5-dehydro-6- methoxy-, pivalate for ADRB2 and TNF-α; and alpha-cadinol for COX-2. The anti-inflammatory potential of Phyllanthus nivosus leaf as a natural remedy and as a source of new drugs against ulcerative colitis is validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Titilayo Omolara Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | - Kenneth Daniel Odoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Charles Obiora Nwonuma
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria
| | - Augustina Oduje Akinsanmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Africa Center of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Abayomi Emmanuel Adegboyega
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
- Africa Center of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
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