AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review is an attempt to provide scientific information regarding the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological profiles of Gynura species along with the nomenclature, distribution, taxonomy and botanical features of the genus. A critical analysis has been undertaken to understand the current and future pharmaceutical prospects of the genus.
MATERIALS & METHODS: Several electronic databases, including Google scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Semantic Scholar, MEDLINE and CNKI Scholar, were explored as information sources. The Plant List Index was used for taxonomical authentications. SciFinder and PubChem assisted in the verification of chemical structures.
RESULTS: A large number of phytochemical analyses on Gynura have revealed the presence of around 342 phytoconstituents including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, phenolic compounds, chromanones, phenylpropanoid glycosides, flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, steroids, steroidal glycosides, cerebrosides, carotenoids, triterpenes, mono- and sesquiterpenes, norisoprenoids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and proteins. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the pharmacological potential of Gynura species, including antidiabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and anticancer activities. Although the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids within a few species has been associated with possible hepatotoxicity, most of the common species have a good safety profile.
CONCLUSIONS: The importance of the genus Gynura both as a prominent contributor in ethnomedicinal systems as well as a source of promising bioactive molecules is evident. Only about one fourth of Gynura species have been studied so far. This review aims to provide some scientific basis for future endeavors, including in-depth biological and chemical investigations into already studied species as well as other lesser known species of Gynura.
OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to assess the antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of stem parts of Elytranthe parasitica (L.) Danser (EP) on colorectal cancer and identify the bioactive phytochemicals.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: EP methanol extract (EP.M) and its subsequent fractions were screened for antiproliferative activity in human colorectal carcinoma HCT 116 cell line. Phytocomposition of the bioactive fraction was analyzed by GC-MS. Further, apoptotic induction and cell cycle arrest was assessed in the most bioactive fractions.
RESULTS: EP.DEE (Diethyl Ether) fraction and a subsequent fraction derived by column chromatography, Fraction 3A (FR 3A) significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCT 116 cells (P
METHOD: Dichloromethane, methanol, and water extracts of the leaves and roots of M. pumilum var. alata, M. pumilum var. pumila, and M. pumilum var. lanceolata were tested using an in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibitory assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation were carried out on the most active extract using chromatographic techniques. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined using spectroscopic techniques.
RESULTS: The most active dichloromethane extract of M. pumilum var. pumila leaves (IC50 = 161.6 μg/mL) yielded one new compound, 3,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-4,8-dimethyl-isocoumarin (1), and five known compounds, viz. ardisiaquinone A (2), maesanin (3), stigmasterol (4), tetracosane (5), and margaric acid (6). The new compound was found to be the most active xanthine oxidase inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.66 ± 0.01 μg/mL, which was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of the positive control, allopurinol (IC50 = 0.24 ± 0.00 μg/mL).
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the new compound 3,7-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-4,8-dimethyl-isocoumarin (1), which was isolated from the dichloromethane extract of M. pumilum var. pumila leaves, could be a potential xanthine oxidase inhibitor.
METHODS: The extract of D. linearis leaves (CEDL; 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats for 7 consecutive days followed by the oral administration of 3 g/kg PCM to induce liver injury. Blood was collected for liver function analysis while the liver was obtained for histopathological examination and endogenous antioxidant activity determination. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant evaluation and phytochemicals determination via phytochemical screening, HPLC and UPLC-HRMS analyses.
RESULTS: CEDL exerted significant (p
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to optimize the yield of pectin extracted from sweet potato residue and investigate its emulsifying properties.
METHODS: Response surface methodology (RSM) has been utilized to investigate the pectin extracted from sweet potato peels using citric acid as the extracting solvent. Investigation of the effect of different extraction conditions namely temperature (°C), time (min) and solution pH on pectin yield (%) were conducted. A Box-Benhken design with three levels of variation was used to optimize the extraction conditions.
RESULTS: The optimal conditions determined were temperature 76°C, time 64 min and pH 1.2 with 65.2% yield of pectin. The degree of esterification (DE) of the sweet potato pectin was determined using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. The pectin is high-methoxyl pectin with DE of 58.5%. Emulsifying properties of sweet potato pectin were investigated by measuring the zeta-potential, particle size and creaming index with addition of 0.4 and 1.0 wt % pectin to the emulsion.
CONCLUSION: Extraction using citric acid could improve the pectin yield. Improved emulsion stability was observed with the addition of the sweet potato pectin.