In vitro and in vivo antidermatophytic activity of the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) extract from the stem bark of Polyscias fulva Hiern (Araliaceae)

Drug likeliness, pharmacokinetics profiling and efficacy of Polyscias fulva bioactive compounds in the management of uterine fibroids; An integrative in silico and in vivo approach

Polyscias fulva is traditionally used in Uganda for the management of Uterine fibroids (UF). However, there is paucity of data regarding its efficacy, biological targets and potential mechanisms of action hence prompting scientific validation process through insilico and invivo approaches. In this study, we utilized network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations and invivo assays to investigate the drug likeliness, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of Polyscias fulva against Uterine fibroids. Four Polyscias fulva bioactive compounds; pinoresinol, lichexanthone, methyl atarate, β-sitosterol exhibited drug likeness properties with moderate safety profiles. Forty-eight (48) uterine fibroid targets were identified as potential targets for the eleven Polyscias fulva compounds. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed four key targets (HIF1A, ESR1, EGFR, and CASP3). The KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analyses revealed that these key targets play significant roles in regulating the positive regulation of cyclin-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase activity, positive regulation of nitric-oxide synthase activity and positive regulation of transcription, DNA-templated. β-sitosterol demonstrated the strongest binding affinity with the four targets, showing particularly strong affinities for EGFR (-9.75 kcal/mol) and HIF1A (-9.21 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed high stability in these protein-ligand complexes, with CASP3 displaying the lowest deviation and most consistent RMSD (0.14 nm) of the protein, followed by EGFR (0.25), HIF1A (0.29), and ESR1 (0.79). In-vivo evaluation on female Wistar rats with Polyscias fulva ethanolic extract showed an ameliorative effect of the extracts against monosodium glutamate-induced (MSG) UF. Treated animals exhibited a decrease in serum proteins, cholesterol, estrogen, and progesterone levels (P < 0.05) and the extract preserved uterine tissue histoachitecture as compared to controls. In conclusion, Polyscias fulva demonstrates potential ameliorative activity against UF with promising pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles.

In vitro and In vivo study targeting the development of Unani Antidermatophytic Cream: Implication of Herbal Formulations in Treatment of Dermatophytosis

Panwad (Cassia tora L.), Sarshaf (Brassica nigra L.) and Kunjad (Sesamum indicum L.) have been used in the treatment of ringworm infection since ancient times and are documented in classical literature of Unani Medicine. These plant drugs give promising results when used topically in the form of paste (zimad). Hence, the development and evaluation of a cream containing extracts of Tukhm-e-Panwad (Cassia tora L.), Sarshaf (Brassica nigra L.), and Kunjad (Sesamum indicum L.) was carried out to get better efficacy of the drugs. A total of 16 batches (F1-F16) of cream were prepared by adding varying concentrations of hydro-alcoholic extract of the drugs (20%, 40% and 50%) in water removable bases, and three batches were selected as final batches (F4-20%, F6-40% and F16-50%). In vitro antidermatophytic activity was conducted to optimize MIC against dermatophytosis-causing fungi. Dermal irritation of the prepared cream was determined in New Zealand Albino Rabbits. In vivo testing of the different concentrations of the prepared cream (20%, 40%, and 50%) was also carried out using Wistar rats to assess the antidermatophytic activity. Final batches showed good results in all the tested parameters and significant in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity in a dose-dependent manner. No microbial growth was seen in the prepared formulation. The study revealed significant antidermatophytic activity of the prepared cream against dermatophytosis-causing fungi. Hence, it can be concluded that the prepared cream can be an alternative topical agent with safe and effective antifungal activity for treating dermatophytosis.

In vitro antidermatophytic activity of bioactive compounds from selected medicinal plants

Fungal infections are among the most difficult diseases to manage in humans. Eukaryotic fungal pathogens share many similarities with their host cells, which impairs the development of antifungal compounds. Therefore, it is desirable to harness the pharmaceutical potential of medicinal plants for antifungal drug discovery. In this study, the antifungal activity of sixteen plant extracts was investigated against selected dermatophytic fungi. Of the sixteen plants, the cladode (leaf) of Asparagus racemosus, and seed extract of Cassia occidentalis showed antifungal activity against Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum nanum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton terrestre. The plant antifungal compounds were located by direct bioassay against Cladosporium herbarum. IR and NMR spectrometry analyses of these compounds identified the presence of saponin (in A. racemosus) and hydroxy anthraquinone (in C. occidentalis) in these antifungal compounds. The antidermatophytic activity of plant anthraquinone and saponins with reports of little or no hemolytic activity, makes these compounds ideal for alternative antifungal therapy and warrants further in-depth investigation in vivo.

Phytoconstituents from Polyscias guilfoylei leaves with histamine-release inhibition activity

Phytochemical investigation of Polyscias guilfoylei leaves extract (PGE) led to the isolation of nine compounds, that is, ent-labda-8(17),13-diene-15,18-diol (1), stigmasterol (2), spinasterol (3), N-(1,3-dihydroxyoctadecan-2-yl) palmitamide (4), panaxydiol (5), 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosylstigmasta-5,22-diene-3-β-ol (6), (8Z)-2-(2 hydroxypentacosanoylamino) octadeca-8-ene-1,3,4-triol (7), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (8), and tamarixetin 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (9). Compound 4 is reported in this study for the first time in nature whereas compound 9 is reported for the second time. Structural elucidation of the compounds was carried out using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Electrospray Ionization coupled with Mass Spectrometry spectroscopic analyses. PGE and compounds 4 and 9 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and HCT-116 cell lines using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide assay. The antimicrobial activity of PGE and compounds 4 and 9 was evaluated using the agar diffusion method. Escherichia coli was the most susceptible Gram-negative bacteria toward PGE with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 9.76 μg/mL, whereas compounds 4 and 9 did not show any antimicrobial activity. Compound 4 exhibited promising inhibition of histamine release using U937 human monocytes with an IC50 value of 38.65 μg/mL.

Antibacterial and antioxidant properties of crude extract, fractions and compounds from the stem bark of Polyscias fulva Hiern (Araliaceae)

BACKGROUND

In our previous work, the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) extract, fractions and isolated compounds from Polyscias fulva stem bark showed interesting antifungal activity. As a continuity of that work, this study aimed to bring out complementary informations about the antimicrobial properties of P. fulva stem bark that may be useful in the standardization of phytomedicine from this plant.

METHODS

The antibacterial activities of the crude extract, fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residual) and isolated compounds from Polyscias fulva stem bark were assayed by broth microdilution techniques. Their antioxidant activity were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), pyrogallol (superoxide anion) and β-carotene - linoleic acid assays.

RESULTS

The crude extract presented antibacterial activities against S. typhi (ATCC 6539), E. aerogenes (ATCC 13045), P. aeruginosa (PA01) and E. coli (ATCC 10536) with MIC values of 2000 to 8000 μg/ml. The fractionation led the ethyle acetate and n-butanol fractions relatively more active (MIC = 500 to 1000 μg/ml) as compared to the crude extract. β-sitosterol and 3-O-α-L- arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin were the most active compounds on the tested bacteria with MIC values ranging from 6.25 to 100 μg/ml. The most sensitive was P. aeruginosa (PA01) on which all the tested compounds were active with MICs ranging from 6.25 to 400 μg/ml. Among all the tested substances, the crude extract (RSa50 = 84.86 μg/ml) and the methyl atrarate (RSa50 = 14.77 μg/ml), showed the highest scavenging activities against DPPH free radicals and those arising from the oxidation of the linoleic acid respectively.

CONCLUSION

From this study, the results obtained reveal that the stem bark of P. fulva possesses antibacterial and antioxidant activities. It may then be useful in the development of an antimicrobial phytomedicine with a large spectrum of actvity endowed with antioxidant properties which can be standardised based on the isolated compounds.

In vitro and in vivo Methods for the Evaluation of Natural Products against Dermatophytes

Dermatomycoses are infections caused by fungi called dermatophytes; these affect 20–25% of the world population and the incidence continues to grow each year. Recently, an alternative for the treatment of these diseases is the use of natural products, thanks to the fact that they possess great chemical diversity and thus biological activity. However, to understand the therapeutic potential of natural products, their microbiological assessment presents certain limitations. Currently, there is no established reference method to determine the antifungal capacity in vitro and in vivo of natural products (i.e., essential oils). This review focuses on describing the various microbiological methods as well as the many adaptations used to evaluate the antifungal activity of natural products both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the antifungal evaluation of natural products formulated in creams, gels, nanoemulsions, nanocapsules and solid lipid nanoparticles is included.

Natural Products: An Alternative to Conventional Therapy for Dermatophytosis?

The increased incidence of fungal infections, associated with the widespread use of antifungal drugs, has resulted in the development of resistance, making it necessary to discover new therapeutic alternatives. Among fungal infections, dermatophytoses constitute a serious public health problem, affecting 20-25 % of the world population. Medicinal plants represent an endless source of bioactive molecules, and their volatile and non-volatile extracts are clearly recognized for being the historical basis of therapeutic health care. Because of this, the research on natural products with antifungal activity against dermatophytes has considerably increased in recent years. However, despite the recognized anti-dermatophytic potential of natural products, often advantageous face to commercial drugs, there is still a long way to go until their use in therapeutics. This review attempts to summarize the current status of anti-dermatophytic natural products, focusing on their mechanism of action, the developed pharmaceutical formulations and their effectiveness in human and animal models of infection.

Antifungal effect of plant extract and essential oil

The advancement of phytochemical and phytopharmacological sciences has enabled elucidation of the composition and biological activities of several medicinal plant products including plant extract and essential oils. These products have been widely used around the world since ancient times for the treatment of various disorders such as diabetes, hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, microbial infection, sexual disorder and many more. Its popularity in the modern system of medicine is mainly due to their availability and fewer adverse reactions compared to synthetic drugs. Various scientifific investigations have been conducted to look for the potential of the extract from the plant or isolated compounds for the continued use of these products in the treatment and prevention of various kinds of human diseases. It is evident from the available literature and scientifific investigations that many plant species possess potential for use as a benefificial therapeutic remedy with multiple pharmacological actions such as analgesic, anti-inflflammatory, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, antimicrobial, antiulcer and anticonvulsant activities. The present review aims to provide relevant updated information about certain plant products, its composition, preparation and its fungicidal or fungistatic effects on different species of fungus as evaluated by studies done in the past. It introduces six medicinal plants that have been studied for their antifungal property and are found to be effective. The overall objective is to provide comprehensive information about the use of plant extract and essential oil for treating fungal infections and to explore the evidence supporting its effectiveness in treating fungal diseases without causing any serious adverse reactions.

In vitro and in vivo antidermatophytic activities of some Iranian medicinal plants

In the last decades, the number of people suffering from dermatophytoses has seriously increased, which may be due to the development of resistant strains to a range of antifungal drugs. The present study was aimed to evaluate the antidermatophytic properties of eight extracts from the selected spices and herbs, which were ethno-medicinally used in Iran against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale, Microsporum canis, and Microsporum gypseum (10 strain of each). The in vitro antifungal activities of the extracts from four spices and four plants were evaluated by the broth macro dilution method against four dermatophyte strains. In addition, the in vivo therapeutic effects of Myrtus communis L. and Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume extracts (the most active extracts) on dermatophytosis induced by M. canis and T. mentagrophytes in guinea pigs were evaluated. Results of in vitro antifungal assay revealed that all the tested extracts demonstrated both fungistatic and fungicidal activities with the geometric mean (GM) MIC ranging from 0.058 to 3.73 mg/ml and GM (MFC) ranging from 0.058 to 7.46 mg/ml, respectively. Two extracts (M. communis and C. zeylanicum) significantly inhibited the growth of all the tested dermatophytes, while other extracts demonstrated weak (MICs of >0.625 mg/ml) to moderate (MICs ranging from 100 to 0.625 mg/ml) activities. In vivo antidermatophytic assay demonstrated that clotrimazole cured T. mentagrophytes and M. canis infection on days 21 and 17, respectively, whereas M. communis and C. zeylanicum extracts significantly (p < 0.05) cured T. mentagrophytes and M. canis infection on days 9 and 13 as well as 9, 11, respectively. Phytochemical screening showed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phenols, and alkaloids in M. communis and alkaloids, flavonoids, and tannins in C. zeylanicum. Findings of the present study also provided the scientific evidence that natural plants could be used in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of dermatophytic infections.

Antifungal properties of a new terpernoid saponin and other compounds from the stem bark of Polyscias fulva Hiern (Araliaceae)

BACKGROUND

In our previous studies, it was evident that the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem barks extract of Polyscias fulva and fractions (ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residue) demonstrated interesting antidermatophytic activities. So, as a continuity of that, this work aimed at identifying active principles with antifungal properties from P. fulva that could be used as markers for possible standardization of this plant as phytomedicine.

METHODS

The ethyl acetate, n-butanol and residual fractions of the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem bark extract of Polyscias fulva were further fractionated by column chromatography and the structures of isolated compounds elucidated based on their spectroscopic data in comparison with existing literature information. Antifungal activity was assayed by broth microdilution techniques on yeasts and dermatophytes spores.

RESULTS

The fractionation of the crude dichloromethane-methanol (1:1 v/v) stem bark extract of Polyscias fulva led to the isolation of 10 known compounds (1 to 10) and one new saponin (11: 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-28-O-[α-L-4-O-acetyl-rhamnopyranosyl (1-4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl]-hederagenin). Among these compounds, 3-O-α-L- arabinopyranosyl-hederagenin and 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-2)-α-L-arabinopyranosyl]-hederagenin were the most active on the tested fungi with MIC values ranging from 0.78 to 100 μg/ml against both yeasts and dermatophytes.

CONCLUSION

The results of this work constitute a step forward in the possible development of an antidermatophytic phytomedicine from Polyscias fulva stem bark, the isolated compounds being possible markers for the standardisation.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of extracts from Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Eremomastax speciosa, Carica papaya and Polyscias fulva medicinal plants collected in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

The vast majority of the population around the world has always used medicinal plants as first source of health care to fight infectious and non infectious diseases. Most of these medicinal plants may have scientific evidence to be considered in general practice.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant capacities and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts of leaves of Cassia alata, Eleusine indica, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa and the stem bark of Polyscias fulva, collected in Cameroon.

METHODS

Chemiluminescence was used to analyze the antioxidant activities of plant extracts against hydrogen peroxide or superoxide anion. Comet assays were used to analyze the protection against antioxidant-induced DNA damage induced in white blood cells after treating with hydrogen peroxide. Flow cytometry was used to measure γδ T cells proliferation and anti-inflammatory activity of γδ T cells and of immature dendritic cells (imDC) in the presence of different concentrations of plant extracts.

RESULTS

Ethanol extracts showed strong antioxidant properties against both hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Cassia alata showed the highest antioxidant activity. The effect of plant extracts on γδ T cells and imDC was evidenced by the dose dependent reduction in TNF-α production in the presence of Cassia alata, Carica papaya, Eremomastax speciosa Eleusine indica, and Polyscias fulva. γδ T cells proliferation was affected to the greatest extent by Polyscias fulva.

CONCLUSION

These results clearly show the antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory activities of plant extracts collected in Cameroon. These properties of leaves and stem bark extracts may contribute to the value for these plants in traditional medicine and in general medical practice.

Anti-trichophyton activity of protocatechuates and their synergism with fluconazole

Dermatophytosis and superficial mycosis are a major global public health problem that affects 20–25% of the world's population. The increase in fungal resistance to the commercially available antifungal agents, in conjunction with the limited spectrum of action of such drugs, emphasises the need to develop new antifungal agents. Natural products are attractive prototypes for antifungal agents due to their broad spectrum of biological activities. This study aimed to verify the antifungal activity of protocatechuic acid, 3,4-diacetoxybenzoic, and fourteen alkyl protocatechuates (3,4-dihydroxybenzoates) against Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and to further assess their activities when combined with fluconazole. Susceptibility and synergism assays were conducted as described in M38-A2 (CLSI), with modifications. Three strains of Trichophyton rubrum and three strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were used in this work. The pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl protocatechuates showed great fungicidal effects, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.97 to 7.8 mg/L. Heptyl showed a synergistic activity (FIC index = 0.49), reducing the MIC of fluconazole by fourfold. All substances tested were safe, especially the hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and nonyl compounds, all of which showed a high selectivity index, particularly in combination with fluconazole. These ester associations with fluconazole may represent a promising source of prototypes in the search for anti-Trichophyton therapeutic agents.