Bioactivity studies on Zanthoxylum budrunga wall (Rutaceae) root bark

Abstract

Background: The root-bark of the medicinally important plant Zanthoxylum budrunga (ZBRB) brooks a variety of uses in ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal practice in Bangladesh and thus demands biological investigation to reveal its therapeutic potentiality. So, the present study was perpetrated to explore antioxidant, analgesic, antidiarrhoeal, and a cytotoxic activity of ethanolic root-bark extract of Zanthoxylum budrunga and was also to quantify the major bioactive polyphenolic constituents by HPLC analysis. Methods: Total phenolic content was measured spectrophotometrically by using Folin Chiocalteu's reagent while in vitro antioxidant activity was determined by means of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay and reducing power assay. HPLC analysis was performed to identify and quantify the major bioactive polyphenolic constituents present in the extract. Acetic acid induced writhing test and hot-plate test were conducted to evaluate the analgesic activity of the crude extract. On the other hand, in vivo antidiarrheal potentiality was investigated by using experimentally castor oil induced diarrhoea in mice and brine shrimp lethality bio-assay was implemented to check the cytotoxic potentiality of the crude extract. Results: Zanthoxylum budrunga showed DPPH scavenging activity (IC 50 54.27 μg/mL), while the total phenolic content was 647.91 mg GAE/100 g of extract. ZBRB also showed concentration dependent ferric reducing power activity. At the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, ZBRB exhibited statistically significant (P < 0.001) inhibition of writhing in test mice (64.58 and 77.78%, respectively). In hot-plate test, ZBRB, at the above dose levels, significantly (P < 0.001) prolonged pain threshold with response time of 5.80 and 6.81 s, respectively. In castor oil induced diarrhoeal episode in mice, ZBRB exhibited 66.56% and 83.39% inhibition of defecation at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively (P < 0.001). The LC 50 (Median lethal concentration) value of ZBRB in brine shrimp lethality bioassay was found to be 21. 84 μg/mL. In the HPLC analysis, (+)-catechin, caffeic acid and quercetin were detected with the concentration of 17. 94 mg/100, 3.72 mg/100 and 11.95 mg/100 g of ethanolic extract of ZBRB, respectively. Conclusion: The results rationalize the uses of the plant in traditional medicine for diarrhoeal as well as pain management. Catechin, caffeic acid, and other phenolics constituents might have some function in the observed activity.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Zanthoxylum gilletii: A Review

“…Benzophenanthridin alkaloids from Z. gilletii showed anti-neoplastic activity [55]. Paris and collaborators have reported that nitidine extracted from Z.gilletii was successful in causing bradycardia and lowering blood pressure in dogs [56]. Chelerythrin, berberine and the phenolic canthine -6-one isolated from Z. gilletii powder exhibited antimicrobial activity [57].…”

Zanthoxylum Species: A Comprehensive Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological and Nutraceutical Applications

“…Paracetamol, like many xenobiotics, is first metabolized in the liver, but its metabolites include reactive radicals that attack and damage liver cells. The ability of the Z. armatum fruit extract to protect against liver damage corresponded to the boosting of antioxidant status (elevation in catalase and vitamin C levels in serum and non-protein thiols in liver homogenate) and prevention of lipid peroxidation (lowering of malondialdehyde, a product of lipid peroxidation in the serum) [ 179 ]. Taken together, Z. species extracts can be further investigated as hepatoprotective agents, although the active compounds should be isolated and characterized.…”

“…Similarly, at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses, ethanol extract of Z. budrunga root bark was reported to significantly increase the latency time of response to hot plate induced pain (5.80 and 6.81 s) relative to control (3.29 s), but the analgesic activity of the extract was lower than the effect of morphine (9.60 s) [ 179 ]. Using another analgesic assay (acetic acid-induced writhings in mice), the authors reported that the extract potently suppressed the number of writhes by 64.58% and 77.43% at 250 and 500 mg/kg, respectively, relative to 81.9% by diclofenac sodium, the reference antinociceptive drug [ 179 ]. Taken together, the studies show that Z. species are potential sources of analgesics, anti-arthritis, anti-asthmatic, and generally anti-inflammatory agents.…”

Compostos químicos isolados de extratos e óleos essenciais do gênero Zanthoxylum Linnaeus (Rutaceae) e seu potencial antimicrobiano

“…Na medicina tradicional, o fruto e a casca do caule desta planta são usados como carminativos, antieméticos, no tratamento de reumatismo (Islam, et al 2018), cólera, disenteria, asma, infecções, doenças cardíacas, bronquite e hemorroidas (Kirtikar & Basu 1993). O óleo essencial extraído das folhas é usado no tratamento de cólera e extrato da casca é considerado benéfico no tratamento de vômitos, tosse, disenteria e dor de cabeça (Islam et al 2014b) A atividade antimicrobiana do extrato clorofórmico de folhas e cascas de Z. budrunga, realizada por difusão em disco, mostrou um amplo espectro de comportamento antibacteriano contra B. cereus, B. subtilis, S. dysenteriae, S. boydii, E. coli e S. aureus, com variação de inibição entre 9 mm e 20 mm para as referidas espécies enquanto a atividade antifúngica foi contra Rhizupuz orizae, Schizosporum sp.…”