Antileishmanial Activity of Compounds Isolated from Sassafras albidum

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasitic protozoa, which currently lacks efficient treatment. Natural products have shown promise as a potential source for antiprotozoal drugs. This work focuses on the antileishmanial potential of Sassafras albidum (Lauraceae) bark extract. The crude bark extract of S. albidum showed excellent antileishmanial activity with an IC50 value less than 12.5 μg/mL against promastigotes of L. amazonensis. The chloroform stem bark extract of S. albidum was subjected to preparative column chromatography. Five compounds were isolated, purified by recrystallization, and identified as sesamin, spinescin, β-sitosterol, hexatriacontanal, and 1-triacontanol. Antileishmanial and cytotoxic screening were performed on these compounds. Sesamin exhibited the best activity against L. amazonensis with an IC50 of 15.8 μg/mL and was not cytotoxic to mouse macrophage cells ( CC50 > 100 μg/mL).

Bioassay-based Corchorus capsularis L. leaf-derived β-sitosterol exerts antileishmanial effects against Leishmania donovani by targeting trypanothione reductase

“…Plantderived β-sitosterol has also been studied against different forms of leishmaniasis; for example, phytosterols (stigmasterol + β-sitosterol) isolated from Musa paradisiaca fruit peel have been tested for antileishmanial properties in vitro by studying growth inhibition of L. infantum chagasi promastigotes and amastigotes 19 . Similarly, β-sitosterol isolated with other components from Sassafras albidum stem bark was studied against Leishmania amazonensis, where the β-sitosterol was found to be least effective against the promastigotes, which was evident from its highest IC 50 value in comparison to that of the other isolated products 17 . Furthermore, although the leishmanicidal effect of β-sitosterol from Ifloga spicata showed apoptosis-type killing of L. tropica promastigotes, the detailed mechanism of apoptosis is unclear 18 .…”

“…Therefore, despite the many studies on the effect of plant-derived β-sitosterol on various forms of leishmaniasis, the mechanisms by which the compound kills the parasites remain unclear. On the basis of previous reports, it could be suggested that although the effect of different plant-derived β-sitosterols has been examined on various Leishmania spp., the effectiveness varies among different Leishmania species and strains [16][17][18][19]35 . The discrepancy in the efficacy of drugs depends on the phenotypic variability of different species or strains, clinical appearances and geographical origin 36,37. Certain antileishmanial drugs have also been reported to exhibit species-and strain-specific efficiency 37-40. Additionally, various plant-derived secondary metabolites have been shown to exhibit target-specific activity against parasites 15 .…”

“…In recent years, the abundant plant sterol β-sitosterol has also been examined for its effect on various microbial infections, including parasitic diseases [13][14][15][16] . Plant-derived β-sitosterol has previously been tested on different species of Leishmania parasites, such as L. amazonensis 17 and L. tropica 18 . A mixture of phytosterols containing stigmasterol and β-sitosterol has been reported to possess leishmanicidal activity against L. infantum chagasi 19 .…”

The Phytochemistry of Cherokee Aromatic Medicinal Plants

“…Rhizome: alkaloids (sanguinarine and chelerythrine-antimycobacterial) [452] Rhizome: alkaloids (sanguinarine, chelerythrine, protopineanti-Helicobacter pylori) [453] Rhizome: alkaloids [sanguinarine (2.81-3.96%), chelerythrine (1.38-2.08%)] [454] Rhizome: alkaloids (sanguinarine, chelerythrine, sanguilutine, chelilutine, sanguirubine, chelirubine, protopine, and allocryptopine) Root EO: safrole (85%), camphor (3.25%), and methyleugenol (1.10%) [457] Bark EO: α-pinene (37.9-61.5%), camphene (2.9-5.1%), β-pinene (10.0-13.0%), 1,8-cineole (7.3-10.0%), camphor (1.7-4.6%), and α-terpineol (4.2-11.6%) [458] Bark: sesamin, spinescin, β-sitosterol, hexatriacontanal, and 1-triacontanol; sesamin and spinescin showed antileishmanial activity [459] Saururus cernuus L. Saururaceae Lizard s tail mashed roots poultice for wounds root [15] Aerial parts: lignans (austrobailignan-5, veraguensin, guaiacin, saucernetin) [460] Plant: lignans (manassantin A, manassantin B, saucerneol) [461] Aerial parts: indole alkaloids (sauristolactam, cepharanone B) [462] Aerial parts: lignans (saururin, saururenin, saururinone, austrobailignan 6, calopiptin, galbacin, zuonin A) [463] Aerial parts: lignans (sauriol A, sauriol B) [464] Aerial parts: lignans (licarin A, saucernetin, dihydroguaiaretic acid, sauriol A, sauriol B, saucerneol, and saucerneol methyl ether) [465] Aerial parts: diterpenoid 12,13-dehydrogeranylgeraniol [466] Aerial parts: lignans (manassantin B, 4-O-demethylmanassantin B) [467] Stems and leaves: lignans (manassantin A, manassantin B, manassantin B 1 , 4-O-methylsaucerneol, verrucosin, austrobailignan- Aerial parts EO: δ-cadinene (27%), calamenene (15.2%), β-elemene (9.2%), α-cubenene (4.2%), α-humulene (4.2%), and α-bergamotene (2.8%) [470] Aerial parts: neo-clerodane diterpenoids (scutelaterin A, scutelaterin B, scutelaterin C, ajugapitin, and scutecyprol A) [471] Herb: flavonoids baicalin and baicalein (aglycone) [472] Aerial parts: indole alkaloids (melatonin, serotonin); flavonoids (baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, scutellarin) [473] Herb: flavonoids (viscidulin III, chrysin, baicalein, oroxylin A, wogonin); phenolics (trans-verbascoside, trans-martynoside) [474] Aerial parts: coumarins (scuteflorin A, scuteflorin B, decursin) [475] Stem Senecio aureus L. Asteraceae Golden ragwort infusion of plant taken to prevent pregnancy/induce abortions plant [15] Eremophilane sesquiterpenoids (trans-9-oxofuranoeremophilane...…”

Cytotoxicity, In vitro anti-Leishmanial and fingerprint HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of Trillium govanianum

“…The in vitro antileishmanial analysis of MeOH extract and its SPE were estimated by the method described by (Pulivarthi et al 2015…”