Chemistry, biological activities and toxic effects of alkaloidal constituents of genus Delphinium - A mini review

The genus Delphinium is one of the essential members of the family Ranunculaceae. These species grow wild in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have demonstrated antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. Diterpenoid alkaloids are their main constituents and seem to be responsible for medicinal and toxic properties. The primary purpose of this paper is to review the therapeutic benefits of Delphinium species, chemical composition, and its medicinal uses, in addition to the reported toxic effects of these plants influencing different animals and humans.

Non-Alkaloidal Compounds from Khat (Catha edulis) Leaves

Khat belongs to the family Celastraceae, genus Catha, and species edulis. More than 200 compounds have previously been identified in Khat leaves, including: 40 alkaloids, terpenoids and sterol, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Researchers have spent their effort and time merely on study of the alkaloidal components (mainly the stimulant agents, cathinone and cathine) of Khat both qualitatively and quantitatively. The two principal Khat stimulant compounds, cathinone and cathine, by now are well established. But, on the contrary, previous studies on the non-alkaloidal constituents of the plant were limited. The objective of this work was therefore to isolate and characterize compounds from non-alkaloidal fractions of the plant’s leaves. In this work, two non-alkaloidal compounds (KNA-1 and KNA-2) were isolated and characterized from the acid-EtOAc extract of fresh and oven-dried leaves of Khat (Catha edulis). From the present study, it is possible to conclude that investing more effort and time on searching additional non-alkaloidal principles from the leaves of Khat is so necessary. And further works could be done in the future to isolate extra non-alkaloidal compounds from the leaves and other parts of Khat and evaluate their biological activity.

Neuroprotective Activities of Boophone haemanthoides (Amaryllidaceae) Extract and Its Chemical Constituents

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition that progresses as age increases, and some of its major symptoms include tremor and postural and movement-related difficulties. To date, the treatment of PD remains a challenge because available drugs only treat the symptoms of the disease or possess serious side effects. In light of this, new treatment options are needed; hence, this study investigates the neuroprotective effects of an organic Boophone haemanthoides extract (BHE) and its bioactive compounds using an in vitro model of PD involving the toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. A total of seven compounds were isolated from BHE, viz distichamine (1), 1α,3α-diacetylnerbowdine (2), hippadine (3), stigmast-4-ene-3,6-dione (4), cholest-4-en-3-one (5), tyrosol (6), and 3-hydroxy-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanone (7). Six compounds (1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7) were investigated, and five showed neuroprotection alongside the BHE. This study gives insight into the bioactivity of the non-alkaloidal constituents of Amaryllidaceae, since the isolated compounds and the BHE showed improved cell viability, increased ATP generation in the cells as well as inhibition of MPP+-induced apoptosis. Together, these findings support the claim that the Amaryllidaceae plant family could be a potential reserve of bioactive compounds for the discovery of neuroprotective agents.

Boophone Haemanthoides (Amaryllidaceae) and Its Bioactive Compounds Attenuate MPP+-Induced Toxicity in an in Vitro Parkinson’s Disease Model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease that progresses with increasing age and some of its major symptoms include tremor, postural and movement related difficulties. Till date, the treatment of PD remains a challenge because available drugs only treat the symptoms of the disease or possess serious side effects. In light of this, new treatment options are needed, hence this study investigates the neuroprotective effects of an organic Boophone haemanthoides extract (BHE) and its bioactive compounds using an in vitro model of PD involving the toxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. A total of seven compounds were isolated from BHE viz: distichamine (1), 1α,3α-diacetylnerbowdine (2), hippadine (3), stigmast-4-ene-3, 6-dione (4), cholest-4-en-3-one (5), tyrosol (6), and 3-hydroxy-1-(4`-hydroxyphenyl)-1-propanone (7). Six compounds (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) were investigated and five showed neuroprotection alongside the BHE. This study gives insight into the bioactivity of the non-alkaloidal constituents of Amaryllidaceae since the isolated compounds and the BHE showed improved cell viability, increased ATP generation in the cells as well as inhibition of MPP+-induced apoptosis. Together, these findings support the claim that the Amaryllidaceae plant family could be a potential reserve of bioactive compounds for the discovery of neuroprotective agents.

Flavonoids and other Non-Alkaloidal Constituents of Genus Erythrina: Phytochemical Review

Background: Genus Erythrina belongs to the family Fabaceae, which is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. It has been used in both traditional herbal medicines and pharmacological applications. Original research articles and publications on the overview of alkaloids related to this genus are available, but a supportive systematic review account that highlights phytochemical aspects of other types of secondary metabolites is currently insufficient. Objective: With the utilization of data and information from SCI-Finder, Google Scholar, the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, ACS journals, Springer, Taylor Francis, Bentham Science, and IOP Science, the reliable material sources of this systematic review paper were obtained from various literature published from the 1980s to present. Conclusion: A vast amount of data showed that the non-alkaloidal secondary metabolites were obtained from genus Erythrina with various classes of chemical structures. Herein, approximately five hundred constituents were isolated, including flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, arylbenzofurans, coumarins, alcohols, ceramides, monosugars, and fatty acid derivatives. In agreement with the previous phytochemical reports on the plants of the family Fabaceae, flavonoids make up a great percentage in the number of plants of genus Erythrina. Numerous biological activity investigations such as anti-bacteria, anti-cancer, anti-virus using isolated compounds from Erythrina species have suggested that secondary metabolites of Erythrina plants are now becoming the promising agents for drug developments.

Flavonoids and other Non-Alkaloidal Constituents of Genus Erythrina: A Detailed Account of Phytochemical Review

: Genus Erythrina belongs to family Fabaceae, which widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, and has been applied in both traditional herbal medicines, and pharmacological uses. Original research articles and publications on overview of alkaloids related to this genus are available, but a supportive systematic review account highlighted phytochemical aspects of other types of secondary metabolites is now insufficient. Utilizing data information from SCI-Finder, Google Scholar, the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, ACS journals, Springer, Taylor Francis, Bentham Science and IOP Science, the reliable material sources of this systematic manuscript paper were obtained from the literature published from 1980s to now. A vast amount of data showed that the non-alkaloidal secondary metabolites obtained from genus Erythrina with various classes of chemical structures. Herein, approximately five hundred constituents were isolated comprising of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, arylbenzofurans, coumarins, alcohols, ceramides, mono-sugars and fatty acid derivatives. It resembles the previously phytochemical reports on the plants of differential genus of family Fabaceae, flavonoids reached to the high amount in plants of genus Erythrina. Numerous biological researches such as anti-microbacteria, anti-cancer, anti-virus using isolated compounds from Erythrina species suggested that secondary metabolites of Erythrina plants are now becoming promising agents for drug developments.

Non-alkaloidal constituents from the genus Aconitum: a review

Multiple non-alkaloidal constituents from Aconitum showed great research significance for their novel structures, broad bioactivities and chemotaxonomical significance.