Another anticancer elemanolide from <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> Del

Abstract

A number of antitumor and other bioactive compounds were previously isolated from Vernonia amygdalina Del. This study was designed to further isolate and characterize compounds of medicinal value that may also have antitumor activity from this edible and commonly available plant. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the leaf extract of V. amygdalina (MEVA) led to the isolation and characterization of a known compound, epivernodalol for the first time in this plant. Its structure was identified by spectroscopic methods including 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, MS, UV and IR spectra. In vitro growth inhibitory and cytotoxic evaluation of MEVA, its fractions and epivernodalol against HT-144 (skin melanoma) cell line was carried out by the Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The results showed that epivernodalol and the dichloromethane fraction of V. amygdalina were active against HT-144 (skin melanoma) cell line. Vernonia amygdalina Del. leaf extract yielded another cytotoxic which was active against skin cancer.

Possible Immunological Alterations in the Plasma Levels of TNF-α and IL-10 in the Traditional Application of Vernonia Amygdalina (Ewuro) Leaves in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

“…The antidiabetic bioactivity of V. amygdalina has been reported and associated with to the ability of the aqueous extract to enhance glucose utilization and uptake, which is responsible for the reduction in the high fasting blood-glucose levels after the patients were treated with the raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina leaves [10]. This could also be associated with the phytochemical and the phytonutrient constituents, which include vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2; saponins; flavonoids; alkaloids; terpenes; steroids; coumarins; phenolic acids; lignans; xanthones; anthraquinones; edotides; and sesquiterpenes [16][17][18][19]. High plasma concentration of TNF-a and IL-10 in diabetic patients before treatment could be related to the fact that oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis and development of complications of diabetes mellitus, as hyperglycemia can generate free radicals and impair the endogenous antioxidant defense system in patients with diabetes mellitus [8].…”

“…Decrease in plasma levels of TNF-a, IL-10, and glucose in diabetic patients after the administration of raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina and insulin could be linked with the fact that hyperglycemia can stimulate production of free radicals and cause oxidative stress that can trigger the release of cytokines [4,5,8], which in turn leads to the initial increase of the two cytokines, but their levels decrease, as a result of decrease in initially raised blood-glucose levels following the administration of raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina and insulin. This can also be associated with the possible anti-inflammatory activity of raw liquid extract of V. amygdalina [16][17][18][19].…”

“…The possible antidiabetic property of V. amygdalina could be associated with the fact that the aqueous extract has been known to enhanced glucose utilization and uptake [10]. The leaves contain vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2; saponins; flavonoids; alkaloids; terpenes; steroids; coumarins; phenolic acids; lignans; xanthones; anthraquinones; edotides; and sesquiterpenes [16][17][18][19].…”

Anticancer Activity of Vernonia amygdalina Del. Extract on WiDr Colon Cancer Cell Line

“…Epivernodalol that is compounds of the sesquiterpene lactones has cytotoxic activity on HCT-15 colon cancer cells, HT-29 colon cancer cells, HT-144 colon cancer cells, SiHa cervical cancer cells, and T47D breast cancer cells [22,23]. Vernolide-A that is another compound of the sesquiterpene lactones has cytotoxic activity on B16F-10 melanoma cells by increasing the expression of apoptotic-promoting proteins and suppressing the expression of antiapoptotic protein, and also suppressing the expression of NF-κB family [24].…”

Ultraviolet spectroscopic evaluation of bioactive saponin fraction from the aqueous extract of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> [Esteraeceae] leaf

“…The bitter taste of the leaf has been attributed to the presence of anti-nutritive principles like saponins, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides (Owoeye et al, 2010). As a consequence, the processing of the leaf for human consumption which involves soaking and washing in warm water has been targeted at reducing these bitter tasting principles (Ridout et al, 1991;Güçlü-Ustündağ and Mazza, 2007).…”