1
|
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Aptamers in Envenomation Cases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103565. [PMID: 32443562 PMCID: PMC7278915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is now more than a century since Albert Calmette from the Institut Pasteur changed the world of envenomation by demonstrating that antibodies raised against animal venoms have the ability to treat human victims of previously fatal bites or stings. Moreover, the research initiated at that time effectively launched the discipline of toxicology, first leading to the search for toxic venom components, followed by the demonstration of venoms that also contained compounds of therapeutic value. Interest from pharmaceutical companies to treat envenomation is, however, declining, mainly for economic reasons, and hence, the World Health Organization has reclassified this public health issue to be a highest priority concern. While the production, storage, and safety of antivenom sera suffer from major inconveniences, alternative chemical and technological approaches to the problem of envenomation need to be considered that bypass the use of antibodies for toxin neutralization. Herein, we review an emerging strategy that relies on the use of aptamers and discuss how close—or otherwise—we are to finding a viable alternative to the use of antibodies for the therapy of human envenomation.
Collapse
|
2
|
Gómez-Betancur I, Gogineni V, Salazar-Ospina A, León F. Perspective on the Therapeutics of Anti-Snake Venom. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24183276. [PMID: 31505752 PMCID: PMC6767026 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24183276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Snakebite envenomation is a life-threatening disease that was recently re-included as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), affecting millions of people in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Improvement in the therapeutic approaches to envenomation is required to palliate the morbidity and mortality effects of this NTD. The specific therapeutic treatment for this NTD uses snake antivenom immunoglobulins. Unfortunately, access to these vital drugs is limited, principally due to their cost. Different ethnic groups in the affected regions have achieved notable success in treatment for centuries using natural sources, especially plants, to mitigate the effects of snake envenomation. The ethnopharmacological approach is essential to identify the potential metabolites or derivatives needed to treat this important NTD. Here, the authors describe specific therapeutic snakebite envenomation treatments and conduct a review on different strategies to identify the potential agents that can mitigate the effects of the venoms. The study also covers an increased number of literature reports on the ability of natural sources, particularly plants, to treat snakebites, along with their mechanisms, drawbacks and future perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Gómez-Betancur
- Ophidism-Scorpionism Program, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, University of Antioquia UdeA, Medellín 1226, Colombia.
| | - Vedanjali Gogineni
- Analytical Department, Cambrex Pharmaceuticals, Charles City, IA 50616, USA.
| | - Andrea Salazar-Ospina
- Research group in Pharmacy Regency Technology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences University of Antioquia UdeA, Medellín 1226, Colombia.
| | - Francisco León
- College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Scirè A, Tanfani F, Ausili A. A Spectroscopic Study on Secondary Structure and Thermal Unfolding of the Plant Toxin Gelonin Confirms Some Typical Structural Characteristics and Unravels the Sequence of Thermal Unfolding Events. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11090483. [PMID: 31443430 PMCID: PMC6783991 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11090483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gelonin from the Indian plant Gelonium multiflorum belongs to the type I ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). Like other members of RIPs, this toxin glycoprotein inhibits protein synthesis of eukaryotic cells; hence, it is largely used in the construction of immunotoxins composed of cell-targeted antibodies. Lysosomal degradation is one of the main issues in targeted tumor therapies, especially for type I RIP-based toxins, as they lack the translocation domains. The result is an attenuated cytosolic delivery and a decrease of the antitumor efficacy of these plant-derived toxins; therefore, strategies to permit their release from endosomal vesicles or modifications of the toxins to make them resistant to degradation are necessary to improve their efficacy. Using infrared spectroscopy, we thoroughly analyzed both the secondary structure and the thermal unfolding of gelonin. Moreover, by the combination of two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and phase diagram method, it was possible to deduce the sequence of events during the unfolding, confirming the typical characteristic of the RIP members to denature in two steps, as a sequential loss of tertiary and secondary structure was detected at 58 °C and at 65 °C, respectively. Additionally, some discrepancies in the unfolding process between gelonin and saporin-S6, another type I RIP protein, were detected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Scirè
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabio Tanfani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessio Ausili
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular "A", Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pucca MB, Cerni FA, Janke R, Bermúdez-Méndez E, Ledsgaard L, Barbosa JE, Laustsen AH. History of Envenoming Therapy and Current Perspectives. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1598. [PMID: 31354735 PMCID: PMC6635583 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Each year, millions of humans fall victim to animal envenomings, which may either be deadly or cause permanent disability to the effected individuals. The Nobel Prize-winning discovery of serum therapy for the treatment of bacterial infections (tetanus and diphtheria) paved the way for the introduction of antivenom therapies for envenomings caused by venomous animals. These antivenoms are based on polyclonal antibodies derived from the plasma of hyperimmunized animals and remain the only specific treatment against animal envenomings. Following the initial development of serum therapy for snakebite envenoming by French scientists in 1894, other countries with high incidences of animal envenomings, including Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Costa Rica, and Mexico, started taking up antivenom production against local venomous animals over the course of the twentieth century. These undertakings revolutionized envenoming therapy and have saved innumerous patients worldwide during the last 100 years. This review describes in detail the above-mentioned historical events surrounding the discovery and the application of serum therapy for envenomings, as well as it provides an overview of important developments and scientific breakthroughs that were of importance for antibody-based therapies in general. This begins with discoveries concerning the characterization of antibodies, including the events leading up to the elucidation of the antibody structure. These discoveries further paved the way for other milestones in antibody-based therapies, such as the introduction of hybridoma technology in 1975. Hybridoma technology enabled the expression and isolation of monoclonal antibodies, which in turn formed the basis for the development of phage display technology and transgenic mice, which can be harnessed to directly obtain fully human monoclonal antibodies. These developments were driven by the ultimate goal of producing potent neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with optimal pharmacokinetic properties and low immunogenicity. This review then provides an outline of the most recent achievements in antivenom research, which include the application of new biotechnologies, the development of the first human monoclonal antibodies that can neutralize animal toxins, and efforts toward creating fully recombinant antivenoms. Lastly, future perspectives in the field of envenoming therapies are discussed, including rational engineering of antibody cross-reactivity and the use of oligoclonal antibody mixtures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela B. Pucca
- Medical School, Federal University of Roraima, Boa Vista, Brazil
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Felipe A. Cerni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rahel Janke
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Line Ledsgaard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - José E. Barbosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Andreas H. Laustsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Singh SK, Dhawan SS, Lal RK, Shanker K, Singh M. Biochemical characterization and spatio-temporal analysis of the putative L-DOPA pathway in Mucuna pruriens. PLANTA 2018; 248:1277-1287. [PMID: 30105476 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-2978-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptome analysis and biochemical characterization of the putative l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) pathway in Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC have been performed. Spatio-temporal quantification of the putative l-DOPA biosynthetic pathway genes and its correlation with respective metabolites was established. l-tyrosine, l-DOPA, and dopamine from all plant parts were quantified. The de novo transcriptome analysis was performed using leaves of the selected M. pruriens mutant T-IV-9 during maturity. The putative L-DOPA pathway and its regulatory genes were retrieved from transcriptome data and the L-DOPA pathway was biochemically characterized. The spatial and temporal gene expression for the L-DOPA pathway was identified with respect to the chemical constituents. L-tyrosine, L-DOPA, and dopamine contents were highest in leaves during maturity (about 170-day-old plants). The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was highly expressed in tender stems (230-fold higher as compared to seeds) as well as a high L-DOPA content. The PPO gene was highly expressed in leaves (3367.93 in FPKM) with a 79-fold increase compared to control plants during maturity. L-DOPA was found in every part with varied levels. The highest L-DOPA content was found in mature dried seed (3.18-5.8%), whereas the lowest amount was recorded in mature and dried leaves. The reproductive parts of the plant had a higher amount of L-DOPA content (0.9-5.8%) compared to the vegetative parts (0.2-0.91%). Various amino acid transporters and permeases were expressed in M. pruriens. The transcripts of dopa decarboxylase (DDC) were found in almost all parts of the plant, but its higher content was limited to the leaf.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susheel Kumar Singh
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.-CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Sunita Singh Dhawan
- Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.-CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India.
| | - Raj Kishori Lal
- Genetics and Plant Breeding Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.-CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Karuna Shanker
- Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.-CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| | - Manju Singh
- Analytical Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants P.O.-CIMAP, Lucknow, 226015, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Panda S, Kumari L. Anti-Ophidian Properties of Herbal Medicinal Plants: Could it be a Remedy for Snake Bite Envenomation? Curr Drug Discov Technol 2018; 16:319-329. [PMID: 30019647 DOI: 10.2174/1570163815666180718095655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Snake bite envenoming causes high rates of morbidity and mortality and is one of the serious health-related concerns all over the globe. Around 3200 species of snakes have been discovered till date. Amid these species, about 1300 species of snakes are venomous. On account of its severity, World Health Organization (WHO) recently included snakebite envenoming in the list of neglected tropical diseases. Immunotherapy has partially solved the issues related to snakebite envenomation. However, it is associated with numerous adverse effects, due to which alternative treatment strategies are required for the treatment of snakebite. Traditionally, a large repository of herbal medicinal plants is known to possess activity against snake venom. An exploration of the therapeutic benefits of these medicinal plants used for the treatment of snakebites reveals the presence of various potential phytochemicals. The aim of the present review is to provide an outline regarding poisonous snakes all over the world, various compositions of snake venom, adverse effects related to anti-snake venom and numerous medicinal plants used for the anti-ophidian activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subhamay Panda
- Department of Pharmacy, Gupta College of Technological Sciences, Ashram More, Asansol-713301, India.,Indian Institute of Human and Social Sciences (IIHSS), Sitarampur, Asansol-713359, India
| | - Leena Kumari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Singh SK, Yadav D, Lal RK, Gupta MM, Dhawan SS. Inducing mutations through γ-irradiation in seeds of Mucuna pruriens for developing high L-DOPA-yielding genotypes. Int J Radiat Biol 2016; 93:426-432. [PMID: 27897091 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2016.1254832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop elite genotypes in Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC with high L-DOPA (L-3, 4 dihydroxyphenylalanine) yields, with non-itching characteristics and better adaptability by applying γ-irradiation. Molecular and chemical analysis was performed for screening based on specific characteristics desired for developing suitable genotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Developed, mutant populations were analyzed for L-DOPA % in seeds through TLC (thin layer chromatography), and the results obtained were validated with the HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography). The DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) was isolated from the leaf at the initial stage and used for DNA polymorphism. RNA (Ribonucleic acid) was isolated from the leaf during maturity and used for expression analysis. RESULTS The selected mutant T-I-7 showed 5.7% L-DOPA content compared to 3.18% of parent CIM-Ajar. The total polymorphism obtained was 57% with the molecular marker analysis. The gene expression analysis showed higher fold change expression of the dopadecarboxylase gene (DDC) in control compared to selected mutants (T-I-7, T-II-23, T-IV-9, T-VI-1). CONCLUSION DNA polymorphism was used for the screening of mutants for efficient screening at an early stage. TLC was found suitable for the large-scale comparative chemical analysis of L-DOPA. The expression profile of DDC clearly demonstrated the higher yields of L-DOPA in selected mutants developed by γ-irradiation in the seeds of the control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susheel Kumar Singh
- a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) , Lucknow , India
| | - Deepti Yadav
- a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) , Lucknow , India
| | - Raj Kishori Lal
- a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) , Lucknow , India
| | - Madan M Gupta
- a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) , Lucknow , India
| | - Sunita Singh Dhawan
- a Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) , Lucknow , India
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dabhade AR, Mokashe NU, Patil UK. Purification, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of nontoxic trypsin inhibitor from Albizia amara Boiv. Process Biochem 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2016.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
9
|
Kumar A, Gupta C, Nair DT, Salunke DM. MP-4 Contributes to Snake Venom Neutralization by Mucuna pruriens Seeds through an Indirect Antibody-mediated Mechanism. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:11373-84. [PMID: 26987900 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.699173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mortality due to snakebite is a serious public health problem, and available therapeutics are known to induce debilitating side effects. Traditional medicine suggests that seeds of Mucuna pruriens can provide protection against the effects of snakebite. Our aim is to identify the protein(s) that may be important for snake venom neutralization and elucidate its mechanism of action. To this end, we have identified and purified a protein from M. pruriens, which we have named MP-4. The full-length polypeptide sequence of MP-4 was obtained through N-terminal sequencing of peptide fragments. Sequence analysis suggested that the protein may belong to the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family and therefore may potentially neutralize the proteases present in snake venom. Using various structural and biochemical tools coupled with in vivo assays, we are able to show that MP-4 does not afford direct protection against snake venom because it is actually a poor inhibitor of serine proteases. Further experiments showed that antibodies generated against MP-4 cross-react with the whole venom and provide protection to mice against Echis carinatus snake venom. This study shows that the MP-4 contributes significantly to the snake venom neutralization activity of M. pruriens seeds through an indirect antibody-mediated mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Kumar
- From the Structural Biology Unit, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 067, India, the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121 001, India, and
| | - Chitra Gupta
- From the Structural Biology Unit, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 067, India
| | - Deepak T Nair
- the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121 001, India, and
| | - Dinakar M Salunke
- From the Structural Biology Unit, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Road, New Delhi 110 067, India, the Regional Centre for Biotechnology, NCR Biotech Science Cluster, 3rd Milestone, Faridabad-Gurgaon Expressway, Faridabad 121 001, India, and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, India
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Obogwu MB, Akindele AJ, Adeyemi OO. Hepatoprotective and in vivo antioxidant activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) in antitubercular drugs and alcohol models. Chin J Nat Med 2015; 12:273-83. [PMID: 24863352 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(14)60054-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
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 21(st) 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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mercy B Obogwu
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Abidemi J Akindele
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria.
| | - Olufunmilayo O Adeyemi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, P.M.B. 12003 Lagos, Nigeria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bovine α1-acid glycoprotein, a thermostable version of its human counterpart: Insights from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in silico modelling. Biochimie 2014; 102:19-28. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
12
|
Lampariello LR, Cortelazzo A, Guerranti R, Sticozzi C, Valacchi G. The Magic Velvet Bean of Mucuna pruriens. J Tradit Complement Med 2014; 2:331-9. [PMID: 24716148 PMCID: PMC3942911 DOI: 10.1016/s2225-4110(16)30119-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucuna pruriens (Fabaceae) is an established herbal drug used for the management of male infertility, nervous disorders, and also as an aphrodisiac. It has been shown that its seeds are potentially of substantial medicinal importance. The ancient Indian medical system, Ayurveda, traditionally used M. pruriens, even to treat such things as Parkinson's disease. M. pruriens has been shown to have anti-parkinson and neuroprotective effects, which may be related to its anti-oxidant activity. In addition, anti-oxidant activity of M. pruriens has been also demonstrated in vitro by its ability to scavenge DPPH radicals and reactive oxygen species. In this review the medicinal properties of M. pruriens are summarized, taking in consideration the studies that have used the seeds extracts and the leaves extracts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio Cortelazzo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Roberto Guerranti
- Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrine-Metabolic Sciences and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Sticozzi
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Life Science and Biotechnologies, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy ; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Natural products from ethnodirected studies: revisiting the ethnobiology of the zombie poison. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2011; 2012:202508. [PMID: 21977054 PMCID: PMC3184504 DOI: 10.1155/2012/202508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Wade Davis's study of Haitian “zombification” in the 1980s was a landmark in ethnobiological research. His research was an attempt to trace the origins of reports of “undead” Haitians, focusing on the preparation of the zombification poison. Starting with this influential ethnopharmacological research, this study examines advances in the pharmacology of natural products, focusing especially on those of animal-derived products. Ethnopharmacological, pharmacological, and chemical aspects are considered. We also update information on the animal species that reportedly constitute the zombie poison. Several components of the zombie powder are not unique to Haiti and are used as remedies in traditional medicine worldwide. This paper emphasizes the medicinal potential of products from zootherapy. These biological products are promising sources for the development of new drugs.
Collapse
|