Antimalarial Effect of the Total Glycosides of the Medicinal Plant, Ranunculus japonicus

Abstract

In traditional Chinese medicine, Ranunculus japonicus has been used to treat various diseases, including malaria, and the young stem of R. japonicus is consumed as a food in the Republic of Korea. However, experimental evidence of the antimalarial effect of R. japonicus has not been evaluated. Therefore, the antimalarial activity of the extract of the young stem of R. japonicus was evaluated in vitro using both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and chloroquine-resistant (Dd2) strains; in vivo activity was evaluated in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice via oral administration followed by a four-day suppressive test focused on biochemical and hematological parameters. Exposure to extracts of R. japonicus resulted in significant inhibition of both chloroquine-sensitive (3D7) and resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum, with IC50 values of 6.29 ± 2.78 and 5.36 ± 4.93 μg/mL, respectively. Administration of R. japonicus also resulted in potent antimalarial activity against P. berghei in infected mice with no associated toxicity; treatment also resulted in improved hepatic, renal, and hematologic parameters. These results demonstrate the antimalarial effects of R. japonicus both in vitro and in vivo with no apparent toxicity.

Inhibitory activities of Ranunculus japonicus Thunb. ethanol extract against hepatitis B virus

“…is one kind of traditional Chinese medicines with a long history and has been reported to have pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and other effects. [20][21][22] Our screening from a TCMs pool for anti-HBV activities showed the ethanol extract of R. japonicus Thunb. could inhibit the production of HBeAg and showed anti-HBV potency.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Ranunculus Species (Ranunculaceae): A Literature Review on Traditional Medicinal Herbs

“…Since then, studies have demonstrated various phytomedicinal activities, such as the protective effect on heart diseases including myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury, hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes, and high blood pressure by alleviating chronic [Ca 2+ ] i overload, as well as therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis and decreasing intracellular [Ca 2+ ] i in vascular smooth muscle cells [50,57,58]. In addition, R. japonicus extracts showed antimalarial effects in in vitro culture of Plasmodium falciparum and in vivo rodent malaria experimental systems of Plasmodium berghei [56].…”

“…Inhibits migration capacity of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes methanolic extract of whole plant [50] Antimalarial Inhibits parasite growth in Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei improve hepatic and renal parameters ethanolic extract of whole plant [56] Antihypertrophic Suppresses elevated expression of the ANP, BNP, and beta-MHC inhibits up-regulation of [Ca 2+ ] i total glycosides of whole plant [57] Protective effect of myocardial ischemicreperfusion injury…”

Full‐length transcriptome analysis provides insights into flavonoid biosynthesis in Ranunculus japonicus

“…L. Fu et al, 2013;Luo et al, 2022;Z. Y. Wang et al, 2021;Yun et al, 2021). Many chemical substances have been extracted and isolated from R. japonicus, including flavonoids, lactones, chromones, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids (Na, 2015;Zhong & Feng, 2011).…”