And Dovyalis Abyssinica (Salicaceae)
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Available online at http://www.ifgdg.org Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 12(2): 999-1007, April 2018 ISSN 1997-342X (Online), ISSN 1991-8631 (Print) Original Paper http://ajol.info/index.php/ijbcs http://indexmedicus.afro.who.int Chemical constituents of Solanum mauense (Solanaceae) and Dovyalis abyssinica (Salicaceae) K. Denis CHIRCHIR1,2*, K. Peter CHEPLOGOI2, O. Josiah OMOLO2 and K. Moses LANGAT3 1Department of Physical Sciences, University of Kabianga, P.O Box 2030-20200, Kericho, Kenya. 2Department of Chemistry, Egerton University, 536-20115, Egerton, Kenya; 3Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom. * Corresponding author; E-mail: [email protected] ACKNOWLEDGMENTS DKC is grateful to the Division of Research, University of Kabianga for funding this research. ABSTRACT Profiling the chemical constituents of medicinal plants used in folk medicine is vital in enhancing their full exploitation and utilization in modern medicine. The objective of the study was to characterize anticancer compounds from two medicinal plants, Dovyalis abyssinica and Solanum mauense that are used in folk medicine by the Kipsigis community, in Kenya, in managing various ailments. There is unvalidated folk medicine claim that the decoctions from the roots of D. abyssinica and fruits of S. mauense have anticancer property among other uses. This study reports on phytochemistry of D. abbysinica and S. maunse. Cold extraction method via soaking in solvents was used to prepare the dichloromethane crude extracts, which were later fractionated and purified using chromatographic techniques. Betulinic acid, benzoylated triterpenoid and fatty acids were isolated from dichloromethane extract of S. mauense. Similarly, two compounds, benzoic acid and tremulacin, were isolated from D. abbysinica alongside fatty acid. Anticancer property of betulinic acid, benzoic acid derivative and tremulacin has been reported previously in literature. This study gives the scientific basis for the use of these medicinal plants in folk medicine. © 2018 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. Keywords: Medicinal plants, Solanum mauense, Dovyalis abbysisnica, Betulinic acid and tremulacin. INTRODUCTION abnormal growth at other sites. Cancers may Cancer is a general term applied to a be caused in one of three ways, namely series of malignant diseases that may affect incorrect diet, genetic predisposition, and via different parts of a body (Sakarkar and the environment (Bhanot et al., 2011). The Deshmukh, 2011). These diseases are major treatment regime for cancer includes characterized by a rapid and uncontrolled chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery formation of abnormal cells, which may mass (Owoeye et al., 2010).The synthetic together to form a growth or tumor, or anticancer remedies are beyond the reach of proliferate throughout the body, initiating common man because of cost factors. Higher © 2018 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved. 5012-IJBCS DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ijbcs.v12i2.29 K. D. CHIRCHIR et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 12(2): 999-1007, 2018 plants are ancient sources of medicinal agents been investigated for their cytotoxicity, (Tatsimo et al., 2017). Herbal medicines have antioxidant and antiviral activities, and a vital role in the prevention and treatment of treatment of protozoal infections. Some of the cancer and medicinal herbs are commonly anticancer compounds isolated from available and comparatively economical Solanaceae family are capsaicin, withnolide, though the effectiveness in crude forms is nicotine and solasodine. The ripe fruits, subject to discussion (Sakarkar and orange or reddish brown in colour, of S. Deshmukh, 2011). Gandonou et al. (2017) maunse are used traditionally by the Kipsigis also highlighted the usage of medicinal plants community to manage bacterial diseases and in improving traditional drugs/medicines. cancer. It is also reported that decoction from Plants have a long history of use in the the ground seeds are used by the Ogiek treatment of cancer and it is significant that community in Kenya to expel worms, as over 60% of currently used anti-cancer agents purgative, manage tuberculosis and to treat come from natural sources (Bhanot et al., chest ailments (Amuka et al., 2014). 2011). According to World Health Salicaceae family is known to yield Organization, 80% of the people living in metabolites, which have bacteriocidal effects rural areas depend on medicinal herbs as (Amuka et al., 2014). Dovyalis abyssinica (A. primary healthcare system (Sakarkar and Rich), commonly called African gooseberry is Deshmukh, 2011). The history of plants as native to Africa (De Rosso and Mercadante, sources of anti-cancer agents started in 2007) and belongs to the small genus earnest in the 1950s with the discovery and Dovyalis, formerly of the Flacourtiaceae development of the vinca alkaloids family, which comprises 16 species. (vinblastine and vincristine) and the isolation Cyanogenic tribes of the Flacourtiaceae were of the cytotoxic podophyllotoxins. Vinca separated in the family Achariaceae, and the alkaloids were responsible for an increase in noncyanogenic tribes, including Dovyalis and the cure rates for Hodgkin’s disease and some Homalium, were united with the Salicaceae forms of leukemia (Bhanot et al., 2011). (Rasmussen et al., 2006). D. abyssinica occur Anticancer drugs discovered from herbal naturally from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia medicines have a long history and plant- in the North through Kenya and Tanzania to derived compounds have been an important Malawi in the South and grows in upland source of several useful anti-cancer agents in rainforest, dry evergreen forest, on riverbanks clinical practice (Saisri, 2015). Some herbs and sometimes in more open woodland protect the body from cancer by enhancing (Kiamba et al., 2009). detoxification functions of the body whereas Ethnobotanical uses of D. abyssinica others reduce toxic side effects of have been reported in literature. Jeruto et al., chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Scientists all (2011) reported that it is used traditionally to over the world are concentrating on the herbal treat gonorrhea, brucellosis and teeth medicines to boost immune cells of the body problems in humans and to treat mastitis in against cancer (Sakarkar and Deshmukh, animals. In addition decoction from the roots 2011). is reported to be used in managing typhoid The Solanaceae family comprises a and diarrhea among the Maasai community in large number of species with both toxic and Kenya (Omwoyo et al., 2017). The aqueous pharmacological properties (Vieira et al., extracts of the roots of D. abyssinica are used 2013). The Solanaceae are the third most by the Kipsigis Community, in folk medicine, important plant taxon economically and the as anticancer agent and in managing other most valuable in terms of vegetable crops, ailments. However the anticancer property of and are the most variable of crops species in the two medicinal plants under study has not terms of agricultural utility (Saisri, 2015). A been validated. As part of our ongoing quest number of Solanum species have previously on secondary metabolite profiling of 1000 K. D. CHIRCHIR et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 12(2): 999-1007, 2018 indigenous medicinal plants, this study was cotton wool to remove coarse particles and conducted in a view to characterizing lastly through a filter paper (Whatmann No.1) scientifically the two medicinal plants. to obtain crude hexane extract. This was followed by serial extraction using MATERIALS AND METHODS dichloromethane (1.5 L), followed by ethyl Sample collection acetate (1.5 L) and lastly methanol (1.5 L) in Information of the medicinal plant was the order of increasing polarity of the solvents obtained through direct interview with the for 72 hours each with frequent shaking. It local healers and field observations. Details of was filtered to obtain the crude extracts in the parts used, traditional mode of each step. The solutions containing crude preparation, route of administration, dose extracts were then concentrated under given, duration of the treatment and other reduced pressure to a minimum volume using plants used together were gathered. The roots a rotavapor (Büchi Labortechnik AG, of a mature D. abbysinica and fruits of S. Switzerland). The concentrated crude extracts mauense were collected based on the were allowed to dry to constant weight at interview. Leaves of the two medicinal plants room temperature. The dichloromethane were also collected to aid in authentification. extracts were purified using repeated column The samples was collected from southwest chromatography and TLC plates. Mau forest, Nakuru County and taken to The mobile phase system that was Chemistry Research Laboratory, Egerton used was hexane/ethyl acetate in the ratio of University. The plant identification was 5:4 and hexane/dichloromethane in the ratio performed in the Department of Biological of 1:4. The retention factors of visualized Sciences by a botany specialist. The voucher compounds on the TLC were established. specimens were labeled with scientific and NMR analysis of the pure compounds was vernacular names and stored. performed on an Avance Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrophotometer and spectra were Sample preparation recorded in CDCl3 at the University of Surrey. Fresh root samples of D. abyssinica Structures of compounds isolated were and ripe fruits of S. mauense were collected confirmed by comparison of