Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Pericopsis laxiflora (Baker) Meeuwen (Leguminosae) – A Review

Pericopsis laxiflora (Family Leguminosae) is a medicinal plant that is ubiquitous especially in the tropical and savannah regions. There are many reports on folkloric and traditional medicinal uses that include haemorrhoids, rheumatism, abdominal pain treatment, diarrhoea, and dysentery, fever, skin diseases and jaundice. Peer-reviewed articles were gathered by consulting the databases of Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar. Phytochemical investigations have revealed many bioactive compounds such as β-carboline derivative and tryptamine derivative. The plant has been examined on the basis of the in vitro, in vivo or clinical evaluations and shown to possess major pharmacological activities. These include anti-trypanosomal, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-malarial activities. In the present review, an attempt has been made to congregate the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological studies performed on Pericopsis laxiflora. Comprehensive safety and efficacy studies must be conducted on the plant. Generally, there are knowledge gaps that must be filled. Thus this review is intended for practitioners and researchers in the fields of ethnopharmacology, natural product chemistry and drug discovery related research.

Application of Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons olefination for the synthesis of granulatamide A, its E isomer and other amides of tryptamine

Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) Z-selective olefination was used for the first synthesis of a naturally occurring cytotoxic tryptamine derivative, granulatamide A. The E-isomer of granulatamide A and two other tryptamine derived amides were synthesized by E-selective HWE olefination.

Modulation of c-Fos and BDNF Protein Expression in Pentylenetetrazole-Kindled Mice following the Treatment with Novel Antiepileptic Compound HHL-6

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and c-Fos are shown to promote epileptogenesis and are taken as a marker of neuronal activity. The present study investigated the expression of BDNF and c-Fos in mice brain with pentylenetetrazol- (PTZ-) induced generalized seizure and evaluated the effect of novel tryptamine derivative HHL-6 on the expression of these two markers. The subconvulsive dose of PTZ (50 mg/kg) was administered on alternate days in the experimental groups until the seizure scores 4-5 developed in the PTZ-control group. At the end of each experiment, animals were sacrificed, brain samples were collected and cryosectioned, and immunohistochemical analysis of BDNF and c-Fos protein was performed. Data obtained from two sections per mouse (n=12animals/group) is presented as means ± S.E.M. The test compound HHL-6 demonstrated a potent anticonvulsant activity in the PTZ-induced seizure in mice. Significant reduction in the BDNF (P<0.003) and c-Fos (P<0.01) protein expression was observed in the HHL-6 treated group. Based on these results we suggest that one of the possible mechanisms of HHL-6 to inhibit epileptogenesis might be due to its controlling effect on the cellular and molecular expression of the factors that contribute to the development of epileptogenic plasticity in the CNS.