Effect of Boophone disticha on human neutrophils

Phytochemical Characterization, Antibacterial, Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Properties of Cryptostephanus vansonii, an Endemic Amaryllid

“…The African Amaryllidaceae constitutes an estimated 280–300 species in 20 genera, represented in three major clades corresponding to the Amaryllideae, Cyrtantheae and Haemantheae tribes (Bay‐Smidt et al , ). Amaryllidaceae species are an exclusive source of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, which have been widely reported for their therapeutic uses against various ailments including mental disorders (Elgorashi et al , ; Nair et al , ; Adewusi et al , ), cancer (McNulty et al , ; Kornienko and Evidente, ; Silva et al , ; Nguyen et al , ; Havelek et al , ), antibacterial (Cheesman et al , ) and anti‐inflammatory (Elgorashi and Van Staden, ; Botha et al , ) conditions.…”

Pharmacological and toxicological insights to the South African Amaryllidaceae

“…In 606 addition, it was suggested by the authors that mydriasis, palpebral 607 closure, tachypnoea, piloerection and spastic hind limb paralysis 608 observed at lower doses of B. disticha could be due to the anticho-609 linergic effects of its alkaloid constituent lycorine 3 (Scheme 1) 610 (Gadaga et al, 2010;De Smet, 1996) (Gadaga et al, 2010). 617 Apart from this, based on the putative effects of B. disticha on 618 inflammatory response and immune function, extracts of the plant 619 were also investigated for ATP production effects in isolated hu-620 man neutrophils (Botha et al, 2005). To this extent, ethanolic bulb 621 extracts were shown to significantly decrease ATP as well as super-622 oxide production in the neutrophil medium (Botha et al, 2005).…”

“…617 Apart from this, based on the putative effects of B. disticha on 618 inflammatory response and immune function, extracts of the plant 619 were also investigated for ATP production effects in isolated hu-620 man neutrophils (Botha et al, 2005). To this extent, ethanolic bulb 621 extracts were shown to significantly decrease ATP as well as super-622 oxide production in the neutrophil medium (Botha et al, 2005). A 623 decrease in intracellular ATP is known to reflect possible cell injury 624 due to toxicity to neutrophils (Crouch et al, 1993).…”

“…A 623 decrease in intracellular ATP is known to reflect possible cell injury 624 due to toxicity to neutrophils (Crouch et al, 1993). Conversely, it 625 was suggested that the therapeutic benefits of Boophone disticha 626 may reside with its ability to inhibit superoxide release from neu-627 trophils (Botha et al, 2005). conditions without metabolic activation (Elgorashi et al, 2003).…”

“…This is surprising given that the Amaryl-516 lidaceae is host to the potential anticancer drug targets pancratist-517 atin 10 and narciclasine 11 which are presently under clinical 518 evaluation due to their potent and cell line-specific antiprolifera-519 tive properties(Kornienko and Evidente, 2008). Amaryllis bella-520 donna, Boophone disticha and Crinum delagoense are three of the 521 local Amaryllid plants known to be used for such purposes(Pettit 522 et al, 1984; Nair et al, 1998;Botha et al, 2005). Interestingly, all 523 of these species possess in common the pyrrolophenanthridine lyc-524 orine 3 (Scheme 1) which is also known to be a potent antiprolif-525 erative agent(Lamoral-Theys et al, 2010; Nair et al, in press).526 Furthermore, distichamine 13 in Boophone disticha and 6-hydroxy-527 crinamine 20 in Crinum delagoense have shown similar activities in 528 model studies (Scheme 2) (Nair et al, 1998; 2012a,not inconceivable that the dietary, medicinal and horticul-532 tural uses of plants on one hand would have co-existed with their 533 adverse and toxic effects on the other along their long history of 534 association with indigenous peoples and their traditional customs.…”