Medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Picralima nitida (Apocynaceae) in tropical diseases: a review

Picralima nitida Durand and Hook, (fam. Apocynaceae) is a West African plant with varied applications in African folk medicine. Various parts of the plant have been employed ethnomedicinally as remedy for fever, hypertension, jaundice, dysmenorrheal, gastrointestinal disorders and malaria. In order to reveal its full pharmacological and therapeutic potentials, the present review focuses on the current medicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological activities of this species. Literature survey on scientific journals, books as well as electronic sources have shown the isolation of alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols and steroids from different parts of the plant, pharmacological studies revealed that the extract or isolated compounds from this species posses analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglyceamic, hypotensive, antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, antiulcer and antitumorigenic activities. Results from various scientific investigations to date have revealed the potential of the extract from the plant or isolated compounds for use in the treatment and prevention of various kinds of human diseases. However, further studies on the extracts and pure compounds from this species is required to completely assess its phytochemical, pharmacological and toxicological profile as well as the mechanism of action behind these pharmacological activities exhibited by the compounds isolated from this species.

Isolation of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial metabolites from Jatropha multifida

Objective: To investigate the antileishmanial, antimicrobial and antimalarial activities of the pure metabolites from Jatropha multifida used in African ethnomedicine. Methods:The methanolic stem bark extract of Jatropha multifida used in Nigerian folk medicine as remedy against bacterial infections was subjected to column chromatography and HPLC analyses to obtain three known metabolites, microcyclic lathyrane diterpenoids (1-3). Structures were confirmed by comparison of 1D and 2D spectral data with literature. Results: The three compounds exhibited inhibition of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial actions against the tested organisms with compouds 2 and 3 active against Cryptococcus neoformans at IC50 of 8.2 and 8.7 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: The research lends support to the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in combating microbial infections, leishmaniasis and malarial infections.

Isolation of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial metabolites from Jatropha multifida

Objective: To investigate the antileishmanial, antimicrobial and antimalarial activities of the pure metabolites from Jatropha multifida used in African ethnomedicine. Methods: The methanolic stem bark extract of Jatropha multifida used in Nigerian folk medicine as remedy against bacterial infections was subjected to column chromatography and HPLC analyses to obtain three known metabolites, microcyclic lathyrane diterpenoids (1-3). Structures were confirmed by comparison of 1D and 2D spectral data with literature. Results: The three compounds exhibited inhibition of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial actions against the tested organisms with compouds 2 and 3 active against Cryptococcus neoformans at IC

Isolation of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial metabolites from Jatropha multifida

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antileishmanial, antimicrobial and antimalarial activities of the pure metabolites from Jatropha multifida used in African ethnomedicine.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The methanolic stem bark extract of Jatropha multifida used in Nigerian folk medicine as remedy against bacterial infections was subjected to column chromatography and HPLC analyses to obtain three known metabolites, microcyclic lathyrane diterpenoids (1-3). Structures were confirmed by comparison of 1D and 2D spectral data with literature.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The three compounds exhibited inhibition of antileishmanial, antimalarial and antimicrobial actions against the tested organisms with compouds 2 and 3 active against Cryptococcus neoformans at IC50 of 8.2 and 8.7 µg/mL, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The research lends support to the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in combating microbial infections, leishmaniasis and malarial infections.</p>

Oxytocic effects of the aqueous leaf extract of costuslucanusianus - family costaceae on isolated non-pregnant rat uterus

Costus lucanusianus J. Braun [Costaceae] is a climbing herb, found mainly in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This plant is locally used in situations of pains, inflammation, dysmenorrhoea and in pyrexia. The purpose of this study was to investigate this claim with view to validating scientifically the ethno-medicinal usage. The aqueous extract was subjected to pharmacological testing in vitro on a piece of isolated rat uterus previously pretreated with 1 mg/kg stilbestrol for 24 h. The dose response curves of oxytocin and that of the extract were first obtained. The effects of antagonists like atropine [1 mg] and salbutamol [2 micro g] on the dose response curve of the extract were also investigated. Possible synergy was investigated via co-administration of the extract and oxytocin. Finally the proximate analysis of the extract was investigated. The aqueous extract of C. lucanusianus and oxytocin both produced a dose dependent contraction of the uterus. An effect of 0.63 +/- 0.06 g force of uterine contraction produced by 12.5 mg of the extract was increased to 1.37 +/- 0.09 g when 200 mg of the extract was administered. Oxytocin at 0.16 i.u was observed to produce a similar force of contraction with 200 mg of the aqueous extract. Synergy was established as co administration of the extract at 200 mg and oxytocin at 0.08 i.u, produced higher contractile effect, significantly higher [p<0.05] than when either the extract [200mg] or oxytocin [0.08 i.u] was administered alone. Both atropine and salbutamol significantly [p<0.0001] inhibited the contractile effect produced by the extract. The inhibitory effect showed by atropine on the contractile effect of the extract seems to suggest the involvement of muscarinic receptors. The proximate analysis carried out in this study is used to establish the identity of the crude drug sample. A moisture content of 10.047% was obtained. The total ash is a measure of the non-volatile inorganic constituents remaining after ashing. The values of 3.42% were obtained

Isolation and characterization of xanthine oxidase inhibitory constituents of Pyrenacantha staudtii / 药学学报

Six compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Pyrenacantha staudtii,two of which are new compounds.The new compounds have been characterized as kaempherol 3-O-β-rhamnopyranosyl (1→6)β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 4-β-glucopyranosyl-(2-furyl)-5-methy-1,2-glucopyranoside phenylmethanone (2).The known compounds are 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (3),β-sitosterol (4),sitosterol 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (5) and taraxerol (6).Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical evidences.The two new compounds together with 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid showed significant in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report of these compounds from this plant.

Isolation and characterization of xanthine oxidase inhibitory constituents of Pyrenacantha staudtii / 药学学报

Six compounds have been isolated from the leaves of Pyrenacantha staudtii, two of which are new compounds. The new compounds have been characterized as kaempherol 3-O-beta-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 4-beta-glucopyranosyl-(2-furyl)-5-methy-1,2-glucopyranoside phenylmethanone (2). The known compounds are 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid (3), beta-sitosterol (4), sitosterol 3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (5) and taraxerol (6). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical evidences. The two new compounds together with 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid showed significant in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of these compounds from this plant.