The species of the genus Trillium (Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae) include perennial herbs with characteristic rhizomes mainly distributed in Asia and North America. Steroids and saponins are the main classes of phytochemicals present in these plants. This review summarizes and discusses the current knowledge on their chemistry, as well as the in vitro and in vivo studies carried out on the extracts, fractions and isolated pure compounds from the different species belonging to this genus, focusing on core biological properties, i.e., cytotoxic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities.
<p class="Abstract">The present study was aimed to evaluate the methanolic extract and subsequent solvents soluble fractions of <em>Sterculia </em>diversifolia bark for cytotoxic, anti-cancer and immunomodulatory activities. Phytochemical investigation confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, etc. In the cytotoxic activity, n-hexane showed potent activity (LD<sub>50</sub>: 7.0 µg/mL) followed by dichloromethane fraction (LD<sub>50</sub>: 16.2 µg/mL). In the anti-cancer activity, dichloromethane fraction showed potent activity (IC<sub>50</sub>: 5.9 µg/mL) followed by ethyl acetate fraction (IC<sub>50</sub>: 9.5 µg/mL). While in the immunomodulatory assay, ethyl acetate fraction showed a very significant activity (IC<sub>50</sub>: 21.0 µg/mL) followed by dicloromethane and n-butanol fractions (IC<sub>50</sub>: 25.0 and 25.3 µg/mL respectively). Hence, it is clear that <em>S. </em>diversifolia has anti-cancer and immunomodulatory agents.</p>
The present study was conducted to evaluate the stem bark and leaf of Sterculia diversifolia for larvicidal, leishmanicidal, insecticidal and anthelmintic activities. In the larvicidal activity, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions of both stem bark and leaf showed significant results, while the ethyl acetate fraction showed mild activity (IC50: 70.09 ± 0.09 μg/mL; 71.25 ± 0.01 μg/mL). In the insecticidal activity of the stem bark, n-hexane fraction showed mild activity (20-40% mortality) against all three subjects, while the insecticidal activity of leaf, methanolic extract and n-hexane fractions showed moderate activity (60% mortality) against Rhyzopertha dominica and Callosobruchus analis. In the anthelmintic activity of stem bark and leaf, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited activity in a dose-dependent manner giving time of paralysis and death shorter followed by dichloromethane fraction with 200 mg/mL concentration. Hence, it is clear that S. diversifolia stem bark and leaf possess larvicidal, leishmanicidal, insecticidal and anthelmintic agents.
Video Clip of Methodology:
Anthelmintic Activity: 5 min 29 sec: Full Screen Alternate
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