Chemistry of Secondary Metabolites and Their Antimicrobial Activity in the Drug Development Process: a Review of the Genus Anogeissus
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Chemistry of secondary metabolites and antimicrobial activity in the drug development process 1 Review Article Chemistry of secondary metabolites and their antimicrobial activity in the drug development process: a review of the Genus Anogeissus A. Mann1, J.O. Amupitan2, A.O. Oyewale2, J.I. Okogun3 and K. Ibrahim 4 1Department of Science Laboratory Technology, The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, P.M.B. 55, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria 2Department of Chemistry, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria 3Department of Medicinal Plant Research and Traditional Medicine, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P.M.B. 21, Garki – Abuja, Nigeria 4Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), P.M.B.21, Garki – Abuja, Nigeria ABSTRACT The significance of secondary metabolites as antimicrobial agents and its chemistry in the drug development process is reviewed. The genus Anogeissus (Combretaceae) is widely distributed in most tropical and subtropical countries of the world. Anogeissus is a genus of trees, shrubs or small trees. The genus has eight species, five native to South Asia, two indigenous to the southern Arabian Peninsula, and one native to Africa. Genus Anogeissus have long been used in traditional medicine to treat a broad spectrum of disorders. Chemical constituents isolated from Genus Anogeissus so far include amino acids, terpenoids (and their glycoside derivatives); steroids; flavonoids and their glycosides; tannins and other phenolic compounds and lignan. The focus of this paper has been on the phytochemistry of the species of Anogeissus and with the bioactivities of their various metabolites and their general potential in drug development were reviewed. [Medicinal Plants 2009; 1(2) : 00-00]. Keywords : Anogeissus, Antimicrobial activity, Chemical constituents, Ethnobotanical uses, Drug development, Secondary metabolites, Pharmacological activity INTRODUCTION extracts have been performed, many plants used in different traditional medicinal systems have never been In traditional medicine, plants are the major components evaluated for their antimicrobial effects. The major and it is used as such without isolating the active problem in investigations on the biological activities of ingredients in herbal preparations. Crude plant extracts plant extracts and phytomedicines lies in the fact that might be more important as drugs than the purified form a variety of plants may be used in a single traditional used in the western medicine, since plants contain medicine preparation, and in the possibility of synergistic numerous secondary metabolites, and pathogens in effects resulting from the interactions of the compounds nature interact with many chemicals simultaneously in the extract. This can even result in a loss of activity (Izhaki, 2002). Traditional plant remedies or as the extract is purified (Couzinier and Mamatas, 1986). phytomedicines include crude vegetable drugs (herbs) Eloff and McGaw (2006) pointed out that biologically as well as galenical preparations (extracts, fluids, active extracts can be extremely useful in their entirety, tinctures, infusions) prepared from them. Although a taking into account synergistic and other effects. A number of studies of the antimicrobial effects of plant standardized and formulated plant extracts as drugs might be the starting point in developing countries for a successful pharmaceutical industry to be able to Corresponding author : A. Mann compete with Western pharmaceutical companies. E-mail : [email protected] Medicinal Plants, 1(2) July, 2009 2 Mann et al. Natural products and their derivatives have historically use, random collection or a chemotaxonomic approach been invaluable as a source of therapeutic agents. Natural (Mann, 2007). Before beginning a phytochemical and product chemistry through systematic investigation, pharmacological investigation, a literature search should using chemical principles, helps to develop drugs for be performed on the genus or species in question. It is chemotherapy in modern medicine. It was predicted that possible to discover all the previous research which by 2005 more natural-based medicines would penetrate has been performed on the plant(s) selected for study the largely synthetic global pharmaceutical market by which is the focus of this type of review. Selection of as much as 30% (Wilkinson, 2000a). This is in-line with plants based on data from traditional medicine can also increased awareness and appreciation of plant-derived lead to the discovery of promising new molecules drugs and therapy in both the general public and (Hostettmann et al., 2000). Plants from tropical and scientific community. Pharmaceutical versions of herbal subtropical regions occur in abundance but, they have medicines are now being developed. This may lead to been little studied (Hostettmann et al., 2000). The genus an emergence of a whole new type of pharmaceutical Anogeissus represents an enormous reservoir of new drug (Wilkinson, 2000b). As a consequence, the market molecules with potential therapeutic activity which is for supply of high quality herbal extracts and supply of waiting to be discovered. raw materials will drastically increase. The herbal market is likely to grow from around $US5billion to at least Ethnobotanical uses and Pharmacological activity $US30billion as these medicines enter the $US100billion Anogeissus has been used in herbal medicine in many market for pharmaceuticals (Wilkinson, 2000a). Since the countries for several purposes especially in Africa and development of safe, effective and inexpensive drugs India where its species are widely distributed. It is a are on the top priority of the global drug development very large genus of Combretaceae family consisting of (Chattopadhyay, 2006), it is the aim of the present paper many species such as: Anogeissus acuminata (Synonym: to attract the attention of phytochemists, particularly A. pendula), Anogeissus bentii, Anogeissus dhofarica, those from the developing countries, to take the available Anogeissus latifolia, Anogeissus leiocarpus (Synonyms: opportunities in this genus Anogeissus by intensively A. leiocarpa or A. schimperi or Conocarpus leiocarpus), evaluating its potentials for the drug discovery and Anogeissus rotundifolia and Anogeissus sericea. The drug development. During the last two decades there most studied species are: A. acuminata, A. latifolia and has been an upsurge in the search for new plant-derived A. leiocarpus, thus the present review focus on these drugs containing medicinally useful alkaloids, species. Anogeissus acuminata var lanceolata (Roxburgh glycosides, polyphenolics, steroids, and terpenoid ex Candolle) Guillaum & Perr / Wallich ex CB Clarke is derivatives. The World Health Organization estimates one of the timber trees of Bangladesh. It is commonly that approximately 80% of the world’s population relies called Itchri and Yon. Due to the durability of its timbers, primarily on traditional medicines as sources for their it is used in the manufacturing of handle of tools and primary health care delivery (Farnsworth et al., 1985). Catamaran; which is a traditional fishing craft found Over 100 chemical substances that are considered to be along the Indian coast (Rao et al., 2006). It is used as important drugs are either currently in use or have been herbal drug for treating diarrhoea in India (Dash and widely used in one or more countries in the world have Padhy, 2006). The extract of its timber exhibited been derived from a little under 100 different plants leishmanicidal activity (Takahashi et al., 2004). (Fabricant and Farnsworth, 2001). Approximately 75% of these substances were discovered as a direct result of Anogeissus latifolia (Roxb. ex DC.) Wall. ex Guill. & chemical studies focused on the isolation of active Perr. is a perennial deciduous tree with common names substances from plants used in traditional medicine as axle-wood tree, Buttontree, dindiga-tree, ghattitree, (Cragg and Newman, 2001a,b). Secondary metabolites gum-ghatti, baklee, dhaura and Indian gum (Bhatt, 1987); isolated from medicinal plants can serve as precursors other local names are : Dhaura, Dhausa, Dhau, Dhawra, or models for the preparation of effective agents through Dhawa, Bakli, Dindal, Dinduga, Vellay naga, Chiriman. semi-synthesis or lead-based total synthesis. Anogeissus latifolia is one of the most useful trees in Constituents are often specific to a given botanical India (Firewood and Pak, 1997; Kala et al., 2004). A. family, to a genus or to a species. If a natural product latifolia leaves are fed to silkworms and contain large has interesting therapeutic properties, it may be possible amounts of tannin/dyestuff, and are used in India as to find analogous substances in species of the same such. The tree is the main source of commercial Indian genus or the same family. Natural products can be gum, known as ghatti gum, which is used for calico selected for biological screening based on ethnomedical printing among other uses. Ethnobotanically, the bark Medicinal Plants, 1(2) July, 2009 Chemistry of secondary metabolites and antimicrobial activity in the drug development process 3 of Anogeissus latifolia has also been reported to be practitioners in Nigeria (Johnbull and Abdu, 2006; Mann, used in the treatment of various skin diseases such as 2007). The flower of the plant is also known to be fried, sores, boils and itching (Roy and Chaturvedi, 1986), ground