Anticancer activity and chromatography characterization of methanol extract of Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham., a mangrove plant from Bhitarkanika, India

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Property of a True Mangrove Rhizophora apiculata Bl

Mangroves are abundant in bioactive natural substances that fight off pathogenic diseases. Different parts of R. apiculata, an abundant mangrove found in Bhitarkanika National Park, India were extracted with methanol and a mixture of solvents methanol/ethanol/chloroform (60 : 20 : 20) to evaluate their antimicrobial properties. The combination solvent extract of bark had the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 18.62 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a ZOI of 17.41 mm against Streptococcus mitis. Bark extracts had the highest DPPH (43 %) and FRAP (96 %) activities. The combination solvent bark extract of R. apiculata had the highest ZOI of 20.42 mm (lowest MIC of 2.12 μg/ml) against Candida albicans and ZOI of 15.33 mm (MIC of 3.02 μg/mL) against Penicillium chrysogenum. Combination bark extracts of R. apiculata contained flavanols than methanolic extracts. The crude extract of R. apiculata bark made with a mixture of solvents containing more active ingredients could be used in novel drug formulation.

Pharmacological effect of Heritiera fomes on Long Evans rats against Postprandial Hyperglycemia and adsorption in vitro

Background

Natural restoratives from traditional medicinal plants are considered to be a convenient, potent, and risk-free substitute treatment for hyperglycaemia. Our objective was to explore the activity of the crude extract of Heritiera fomes on postprandial hyperglycaemia by assessing relative measurements in a laboratory animal model.

Methods

The Streptozotocin induced diabetic rat (n = 88, twenty-two per group) was used for the glucose tolerance test as an initial support for the study. BaSO4 was administered orally as a marker to measure gut motility after one hour of methanolic extract (500 mg/kg body weight) administration where, only purified water (10 ml/kg) was used to treat the control group (n = 12) and a dose (500 mg/kg) of H. fomes extract was used for the test group (n = 12 in each group). After 60 min of incubation of the mixture of extract and glucose with 10% (v/v) yeast cell suspension, the absorbance was measured to determine the capacity of glucose absorption by yeast cells. Sixty Long Evans rats (n = 12 in each group) were used to assess disaccharidase enzyme activity as µmol/mg protein per hour by Lowry's protein estimation method. The carbohydrate absorption investigation was executed to evaluate the leftover sucrose content in the gastrointestinal system (n = 64).

Results

After oral administration of MHFL (71.84%), MHFB (71.41%), and MHFR (72.55%), GI motility (%) increased significantly (p < 0.001) compared to the control group (59.06%). A significant increase in glucose uptake and adsorption capacity measured by different concentrations of glucose ensures the decrease of glucose bound rate and a significant drop in blood glucose concentration. The significant (p < 0.001) decrease in intestinal disaccharidase activity of MHFL (1.40), MHFB (1.36), and MHFR (1.20) in comparison to the control group (1.50) indicates that the presence of H. fomes may reduce glucose absorption in the small bowel. Significant (p < 0.001 & p < 0.05) accumulation of sucrose content in the six different parts of the GI tract suggests the absorption of sucrose was decreased.

Conclusions

The findings of this study provide evidence on probable mechanisms for the anti-diabetic characteristics of H. fomes, and it is predicted that this plant will be studied further for the development of strong anti-hyperglycemic medicines.

In vitro and in vivo antihyperglycemic activity of the ethanol extract of Heritiera fomes bark and characterization of pharmacologically active phytomolecules

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to demonstrate the mechanistic basis of Heritiera fomes, which has traditionally been used to treat diabetes.

METHODS

Clonal pancreatic β-cells and primary islets were used to measure insulin release. 3T3-L1 cells were used to analyse insulin action, and in vitro systems were used to measure further glucose-lowering activity. In vivo assessment was performed on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type-2 diabetic rats and reversed-phase-HPLC followed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to detect bioactive molecules.

KEY FINDINGS

Ethanol extract of Heritiera fomes (EEHF) significantly increased insulin release with stimulatory effects comparable to 1 µM glucagon-like peptide 1, which were somewhat reduced by diazoxide, verapamil and calcium-free conditions. Insulin release was stimulated by tolbutamide, isobutyl methylxanthine and KCl. EEHF induced membrane depolarization and increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. EEHF enhanced glucose uptake in 3T3L1 cells and decreased protein glycation. EEHF significantly inhibited postprandial hyperglycaemia following sucrose loading and inversely elevated unabsorbed sucrose concentration in the gut. It suppressed glucose absorption during in situ gut perfusion. Furthermore, EEHF improved glucose tolerance, plasma insulin and gut motility, and decreased plasma dipeptidyl peptidase IV activity. Procyanidins, epicatechin and proanthocyanidins were some of the identified bioactive constituents that may involve in β-cell actions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides some evidence to support the use of H. fomes as an antidiabetic traditional remedy.

Therapeutic potential and ethnopharmacology of dominant mangroves of Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, India

Bhitarkanika National Park, is the second largest contiguous mangrove forest of India. Despite being one of the most diverse mangrove habitations of India, its phytoresources has not been adequately explored for their therapeutic potentials. However, the ethnopharmacological practices are comparatively lower than the other mangrove regions of India and Southeast Asia. Ageold ethnobotanical informations have always led biologists, chemists and pharmacists in quenching the demands of therapeutically important phytocompounds and their possible use for the betterment of mankind. The present review is aimed to congregate information on the therapeutic potential and ethnopharmacology of nine dominant mangrove species of the National Park. It will manifest the demand of social awareness among the mangrove dwellers to promote uses of folklore medicine as a complementary step to strengthen community health.

Molecular identification and antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi isolated from Heritiera fomes (Buch. -Ham), a mangrove plant of the Sundarbans

Background

Endophytic fungi play a vital role in plant defense system by secreting various antimicrobial agents. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the endophytic fungi of the mangrove plant Heritiera fomes (Buch. -Ham), plants were collected from the Sundarbans, Bangladesh. The endophytic fungi were subsequently isolated and identified.

Results

Fifty-five endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves, root, and bark of H. fomes (Buch. -Ham). Genomic DNA was extracted for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) by specific primers to multiply ITS region and sequences were determined. Nucleotide sequence data were submitted to the Genbank and accession number for each fungal strain was obtained. Antimicrobial activity of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanolic extracts of eleven species from both fermentation and mycelium, respectively, were analyzed by microtiter plate-based antimicrobial assay incorporating resazurin as an indicator of cell growth against two Gram-positive bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 12981 and Micrococcus luteus NCTC 7508, two Gram-negative bacteria namely Escherichia coli NCTC 12241 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCTC 12903, and a fungus Candida albicans ATCC 90028. All the endophytic fungal extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities against more than one-tested pathogenic microbial strains. Overall, methanolic extracts showed greater activity than EtOAc extracts. Pseudopestalotiopsis camelliae-sinensis, Pestalotiopsis microspora, and Penicillium copticola were the most active endophytic fungal strains and exhibited strong inhibitory activity against the microorganisms under investigation and their MIC values ranged from 0.0024 to 5.0 mg/mL. Methanolic extracts of both P. camelliae-sinensis and P. microspora showed the highest antibacterial activity (MIC value of 0.0024 mg/mL) against P. aeruginosa NCTC 12903.

Conclusion

This study showed that the isolated and identified endophytic fungi from H. fomes (Buch. -Ham) could be potential sources of antimicrobial agents.

Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-hemolytic, cytotoxic effects and anti-bacterial activity of selected mangrove plants (Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Heritiera littoralis) in Bangladesh

Objectives

In this present study, antioxidant, anti-hemolytic, cytotoxic and anti-bacterial activities derived from methanol extracts of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Heritiera littoralis were investigated in order to determine their medicinal activities.

Materials and methods

Folin-Ciocalteu reagent method and aluminum chloride methods were used to determine the mangroves’ total phenolics and total flavonoid content, respectively. Antioxidant capacity was assessed via the following methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydroxyl (DPPH), 43 mM H2O2, Fe2+ quenching assay, and anti-hemolytic activity. Brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.) lethality assay was also carried out to determine the cytotoxic potential of the mangroves along with anti-bacterial activity test using five Gram-negative and another two Gram-positive bacterial strains.

Results

The mangroves yielded 58.917 ± 0.601 and 36.625 ± 0.551 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g sample and 76.417 ± 0.19 and 113.637 ± 0.17 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g sample in B. gymnorrhiza and H. littoralis, respectively. Methanol extracts of both mangroves exhibited high radical scavenging activity against DPPH, H2O2 and Fe2+ radicals. The reductive capacity of the extracts increased with increasing concentrations of samples, and the extracts inhibited H2O2 induced hemolysis in human red blood cells (RBCs). Antioxidant properties were found to be moderately weaker than that of the reference standard, L-ascorbic acid (AA), and Gallic acid (GA). Further, brine shrimp (Artemia salina L.) lethality assay revealed significant cytotoxicity (241.4 and 272.6 μg/mL, respectively). Methanol extracts could also inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacterial strains.

Conclusion

This study showed that the crude methanol extract of selected mangrove plants possesses free radical scavenging, anti-hemolytic, cytotoxic and anti-bacterial activity. The experimented plant has the potential to be used as a traditional medicine and replace synthetic drugs. Further studies are necessary to isolate active compounds responsible for the overall antioxidant activity of the crude extracts.

Anil Kumar N, Sharopov F, Ramírez-Alarcón K, Ruiz-Ortega A, Abdulmajid Ayatollahi S, Valere Tsouh Fokou P, Kobarfard F, Amiruddin Zakaria Z, Iriti M, Taheri Y, Martorell M, Sureda A, N. Setzer W, Durazzo A, Lucarini M, Santini A, Capasso R, Adrian Ostrander E, -ur-Rahman A, Iqbal Choudhary M, C. Cho W, Sharifi-Rad J. Antidiabetic Potential of Medicinal Plants and Their Active Components

Diabetes mellitus is one of the major health problems in the world, the incidence and associated mortality are increasing. Inadequate regulation of the blood sugar imposes serious consequences for health. Conventional antidiabetic drugs are effective, however, also with unavoidable side effects. On the other hand, medicinal plants may act as an alternative source of antidiabetic agents. Examples of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential are described, with focuses on preclinical and clinical studies. The beneficial potential of each plant matrix is given by the combined and concerted action of their profile of biologically active compounds.

Ethnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Global Distribution of Mangroves-A Comprehensive Review

Mangroves are ecologically important plants in marine habitats that occupy the coastlines of many countries. In addition to their key ecological importance, various parts of mangroves are widely used in folklore medicine and claimed to effectively manage a panoply of human pathologies. To date, no comprehensive attempt has been made to compile and critically analyze the published literature in light of its ethnopharmacological uses. This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the morphological characteristics, ethnobotany, global distribution, taxonomy, ethnopharmacology, phytochemical profiles, and pharmacological activities of traditionally used mangroves. Out of 84 mangrove species, only 27 species were found to be traditionally used, however not all of them are pharmacologically validated. The most common pharmacological activities reported were antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties. Mangroves traditionally reported against ulcers have not been extensively validated for possible pharmacological properties. Terpenoids, tannins, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids, and saponins were the main classes of phytochemicals isolated from mangroves. Given that mangroves have huge potential for a wide array of medicinal products and drug discovery to prevent and treat many diseases, there is a dire need for careful investigations substantiated with accurate scientific and clinical evidence to ensure safety and efficient use of these plants and validate their pharmacological properties and toxicity.

Anti-MRSA activity of oxysporone and xylitol from the endophytic fungus Pestalotia sp. growing on the Sundarbans mangrove plant Heritiera fomes

Heritiera fomes Buch.-Ham., a mangrove plant from the Sundarbans, has adapted to a unique habitat, muddy saline water, anaerobic soil, brackish tidal activities, and high microbial competition. Endophytic fungal association protects this plant from adverse environmental conditions. This plant is used in Bangladeshi folk medicine, but it has not been extensively studied phytochemically, and there is hardly any report on investigation on endophytic fungi growing on this plant. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated from the surface sterilized cladodes and leaves of H. fomes. The antimicrobial activities were evaluated against two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria and the fungal strain, Candida albicans. Extracts of Pestalotia sp. showed activities against all test bacterial strains, except that the ethyl acetate extract was inactive against Escherichia coli. The structures of the purified compounds, oxysporone and xylitol, were elucidated by spectroscopic means. The anti-MRSA potential of the isolated compounds were determined against various MRSA strains, that is, ATCC 25923, SA-1199B, RN4220, XU212, EMRSA-15, and EMRSA-16, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 32 to 128 μg/ml. This paper, for the first time, reports on the anti-MRSA property of oxysporone and xylitol, isolation of the endophyte Pestalotia sp. from H. fomes, and isolation of xylitol from a Pestalotia sp.

Pharmacological and Ethnomedicinal Overview of Heritiera fomes: Future Prospects

Mangrove plants are specialized woody plants growing in the swamps of tidal-coastal areas and river deltas of tropical and subtropical parts of the world. They have been utilized for medicinal and other purposes by the coastal people over the years. Heritiera fomes Buch. Ham. (family: Sterculiaceae) commonly known as Sundari (Bengali) is a preeminent mangrove plant occurring in the Sundarbans forest located in the southern part of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal province of India. The plant has applications in traditional folk medicine as evidenced by its extensive use for treating diabetes, hepatic disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, goiter, and skin diseases by the local people and traditional health practitioners. A number of investigations indicated that the plant possesses significant antioxidant, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. Phytochemical analyses have revealed the presence of important chemical constituents like saponins, alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, steroids, flavonoids, gums, phytosterols, and reducing sugars. The present study is aimed at compiling information on phytochemical, biological, pharmacological, and ethnobotanical properties of this important medicinal plant, with a view to critically assess the legitimacy of the use of this plant in the aforementioned disorders as well as providing directions for further research.