Chemical constituents of Calotropis procera latex and ultrastructural effects on Haemonchus contortus

Potential anticancer properties of calotropis procera: An investigation on breast and colon cancer cells

Calotropis procera is a perennial flowering plant of the Apocynaceae family, traditionally used in medicine to treat various ailments. Recent investigations have revealed its potential therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, analgesic, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties. RP-HPLC qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated the phenolic acids and flavonoids in the ethanolic extract at two different wavelengths, 280 and 330 nm. In addition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured via spectrophotometric determination in addition to the antioxidant activity. The antiproliferative effects of C. procera were investigated on two cancer cell lines: human colon (HCT-116) and breast (MCF-7) cancer. Several methods were utilised to analyse the effectiveness of the plant extract on the cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell cycle progression, genes involved in the cell cycle, and protein expression profiles of HCT-116 and MCF-7 cells. These included the MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI, analysis of the cell cycle, and Western blot. Results indicated that ferulic and caffeic acids were the major compounds at λ_max 280 nm (1.374% and 0.561%, respectively), while the major compounds at λ_max 325 nm were kaempferol and luteolin (1.036% and 0.512%, respectively). The ethanolic extract had significantly higher antioxidant activity (80 ± 2.3%) compared to ascorbic acid (90 ± 3.1%). C. procera extract exhibited dose-dependent cell growth inhibition, with an estimated IC₅₀ of 50 μg/mL for MCF-7 and 55 μg/mL for HCT-116 cells at 24 h. Annexin V-FITC/PI confirmed the induction of apoptosis. Remarkably, cell cycle arrest occurred at the sub-G1 phase in MCF-7 cells, while in HCT-116 cells, it was observed at the G2-M phase. The sub-G1 arrest was associated with dysregulation of Akt, p-AKT, mTOR, and p-mTOR proteins, as confirmed by the Western blot analysis, while downregulation of CDK1, cyclin B1, and survivin caused G2-M arrest.

Anastomosing laticifer in the primary and secondary structures of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton (Apocynaceae) stems

An in-depth understanding of the development and distribution of laticifer (latex secretory structure) will be important for the production of both rubber and medicines and will support studies on plant adaptations to their environments. We characterize here and describe the ontogenesis of the laticifer sytem in Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae), an invasive subshrub species in arid landscapes. Anatomical and histochemical evaluations of the primary and secondary structures of the stem were carried out on a monthly basis during a full year, with ultrastructural evaluations of laticifer on the stem apex during the rainy season. In the primary structure, laticifer differentiate early from procambium and ground meristem cells of the cortex and medulla and become concentrated adjacent to the external and internal phloem of the bicollateral bundles. In the secondary structure, laticifer differentiates from fusiform derivative cells of the phloem close to the sieve-tube elements. The laticifer is of the articulated, anastomosing, branched type, and it originates from precursor cells that loose the transversal and longitudinal walls by dissolution. Latex is a mixture of terpenes, alkaloids, flavonoids, mucilage, and proteins. The apical meristem and vascular cambium where the laticifer system begins its development are active throughout the year, including during the dry season. The vascular cambium produces phloem with laticifer precursor cells during the rainy season, with high temperatures and long days. The ability of C. procera to grow under water deficit conditions and produce laticifer throughout the year contribute to its wide distribution in arid environments.

Does in Vitro and in Vivo Exposure To Medicinal Herbs Cause Structural Cuticular Changes in Haemonchus Contortus?

The health and production of small ruminants in constantly menaced by parasitic infections, especially those caused by the blood-sucking gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus. The aim of this study was to assess the structural cuticular changes in adult H. contortus induced by the use of extracts from local medicinal plants and to examine their ovicidal activity. Previous studies have confirmed the beneficial effect of herbal mixtures in preventing haemonchosis in lambs by lowering fecal egg production and improving immunocompetence. We exposed adult H. contortus to Herbmix (a mixture of medicinal plants) under in vivo and in vitro conditions for observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For the in vivo observations, adult worms were isolated from the abomasa of experimentally infected lambs from a Herbmix group and a control group. Surface structure did not differ significantly between the exposed and control groups. The ovicidal activity of an aqueous Herbmix extract was assessed in vitro, establishing the inhibition of hatching with an ED₅₀ of 6.52 mg/mL. Adult worms for in vitro examination were isolated from experimentally infected lambs and incubated in Herbmix aqueous extracts for 24 h. SEM observations indicated that none of the worms had prominent ultrastructural changes on their cuticles. This study suggests that previously demonstrated antiparasitic effects of medicinal plants did not negatively affect adult parasites by damaging their external structures.

In vitro anthelmintic activity of an R-carvone nanoemulsions towards multiresistant Haemonchus contortus

This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic effect of carvone nanoemulsions on Haemonchus contortus. Three R-carvone nanoemulsions were prepared: uncoated R-carvone nanoemulsions homogenized in a sonicator (UNAlg-son) and homogenized in an ultrahomogenizer (UNAlg-ultra) and sodium alginate-coated R-carvone (CNAlg-ultra). The physicochemical characterizations of the nanoemulsions were carried out. The anthelmintic activity was evaluated using egg hatch test (EHT), larval development test (LDT) and adult worm motility test (AWMT). Changes in cuticle induced in adult H. contortus were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were subjected to analysis of variance and compared using the Tukey test (P < 0.05). The effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) of egg hatching and larval development was calculated. The particle sizes were 281.1 nm (UNAlg-son), 152.7 nm (UNAlg-ultra) and 557.8 nm (CNAlg-ultra), and the zeta potentials were −15 mV (UNAlg-son), −10.8 mV (UNAlg-ultra) and −24.2 mV (CNAlg-ultra). The encapsulation efficiency was 99.84 ± 0.01%. SEM of the nanoemulsions showed an increase in size. In EHT, the EC50 values of UNAlg-son, UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra were 0.19, 0.02 and 0.17 mg mL−1, respectively. In LDT, they were 0.29, 0.31 and 0.95 mg mL−1 for UNAlg-son, UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra, respectively. The adult motility inhibition was 100% after 12 h of exposure to UNAlg-ultra and CNAlg-ultra, while for UNAlg-son, it was 79.16%. SEM showed changes in the buccal capsule and cuticular damage. It was concluded that R-carvone nanoemulsions showed antiparasitic action demonstrating promise for the control of infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants.

Impact of Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) Pellets on Parasitological Status, Antibody Responses, and Antioxidant Parameters in Lambs Infected with Haemonchus contortus

Our study analyzed the parasitological status, antibody responses, and antioxidant parameters of lambs experimentally infected with a gastrointestinal nematode during the consumption of sainfoin pellets (SFPs) for 14 d. Twenty-four lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus were separated into two groups: untreated animals (control) and animals treated with SFPs (600 g dry matter/d). SFP treatment began on day (D) 30 post-infection. The number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was quantified on D18, D23, D26, D30, D33, D37, D40, and D44. The mean reductions in EPG on D40 and D44 were 33.6 and 36.7%, respectively. The number of abomasal worms was lower for the SFP than the control group (p < 0.05). SFP treatment did not significantly affect either the total or the local antibody response (p > 0.05). The blood activity of glutathione peroxidase was affected by the treatment (p < 0.022). Adult worms were selected for scanning electron microscopy after necropsy, but surface structures of adult H. contortus females did not differ between the groups. The treatment of lambs with SFPs directly affected the dynamics of infection, probably indirectly by mobilizing the antioxidant defensive system and antibody response thus improving animal resistance.

Nematocidal activity of hydroalcoholic extracts of spent substrate of Pleurotus djamor on L3 larvae of Haemonchus contortus

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the in vitro lethal effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of the spent substrate of Pleurotus djamor ECS-123, obtained at 15 days of colonization (SPS) and at the first (SPS1) and second (SPS2) harvests, against infective larvae L₃ of Haemonchus contortus. The in vitro lethal effect was evaluated by the L₃ larval mortality test (LM) using six concentrations: 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL, with ivermectin and thiabendazole (5 mg/mL) as controls. The first harvest extract (SPS1) of strain ECS-123 was subjected to liquid-liquid bipartition, which resulted in two fractions: aqueous (PdAcO) and ethyl acetate (PdAct). The chemical fractionation of PdAct with the highest mortality rate (80.11 %) was carried out with open-column chromatography, giving a total of 13 fractions, which were analyzed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and grouped into 5 mixtures (R1;1-3, R2;4-7, R3;8-9, R4;10-11 and R5;12-13). Subsequently, the mixtures were evaluated against H. contortus L₃ larvae. Finally, the components of the mixtures with the highest nematocidal effects were evaluated by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The data were analyzed with a completely randomized design through ANOVA using the generalized linear model (GLM) with the "R" program. The purification and characterization of R4 and R5 by GC-MS revealed the presence of the following compounds: veratryl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-3,5,5 trimethyl-4-[3-oxo-1-butenyl]-2- cyclohexen-1-one, caffeine and 5,6-dimethoxy-1(3 H) isobenzofuranone. This information allowed for the identification of nematocidal compounds in the degraded substrate of P. djamor, an activity that had not been reported previously.

An Overview of the Characteristics and Potential of Calotropis procera From Botanical, Ecological, and Economic Perspectives

Calotropis procera (Aiton) Dryand. (commonly known as the apple of sodom, calotrope, and giant milkweed) is an evergreen, perennial shrub of the family Apocynaceae, mainly found in arid and semi-arid regions. It is a multipurpose plant, which can be utilized for medicine, fodder, and fuel purposes, timber and fiber production, phytoremediation, and synthesis of nanoparticles. It has been widely used in traditional medicinal systems across North Africa, Middle East Asia, and South-East Asia. At present, it is being extensively explored for its potential pharmacological applications. Several reports also suggest its prospects in the food, textile, and paper industries. Besides, C. procera has also been acknowledged as an ornamental species. High pharmacological potential and socio-economic value have led to the pantropical introduction of the plant. Morpho-physiological adaptations and the ability to tolerate various abiotic stresses enabled its naturalization beyond the introduced areas. Now, it is recognized as an obnoxious environmental weed in several parts of the world. Its unnatural expansion has been witnessed in the regions of South America, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, the Hawaiian Islands, Mexico, Seychelles, and several Pacific Islands. In Australia, nearly 3.7 million hectares of drier areas, including rangelands and Savannahs, have been invaded by the plant. In this review, multiple aspects of C. procera have been discussed including its general characteristics, current and potential uses, and invasive tendencies. The objectives of this review are a) to compile the information available in the literature on C. procera, to make it accessible for future research, b) to enlist together its potential applications being investigated in different fields, and c) to acknowledge C. procera as an emerging invasive species of arid and semi-arid regions.