Arbutus unedo L.: From traditional medicine to potential uses in modern pharmacotherapy

Morgado, S; Morgado, Manuel; Plácido, Ana I.; Roque, Fátima; Duarte, Ana Paula

doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.07.004

Cited by 60 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…As shown in Figure 7, pre-treatment with all different extracts were able to significantly reduce the nitrite formation. No significant differences were observed inside the group of leaves or fruits extracts but all the fruits extract showed a more anti-inflammatory activity with respect to the leaves extract, in accordance with the previously reported by other authors [11,61]. It is known that increased NO formation contributes to the inflammatory process.…”

Section: Inhibitory Effects On Nitric Oxide (No) Productionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Arbutus unedo L. (strawberry tree, Ericaceae family) is a plant of increasing interest because of its traditional, industrial, and medicinal use [11]. A. unedo has a circum-Mediterranean distribution, mainly in the coastal and inland areas with temperate climates, growing in north-eastern Africa, Canary Islands, western Asia, and Europe.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In traditional medicine, A. unedo fruits are known as antiseptic, diuretic and laxative agent, and to treat hypertension and kidney diseases. Roots, barks, and leaves are used as remedy for the treatment of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, urological, dermatologic, gastrointestinal disorders, and vaginal infections [11]. Moreover, leaves are used for the treatment of diabetes and rheumatism.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of Flavonoids and Iridoids to the Hypoglycaemic, Antioxidant, and Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities of Arbutus unedo L.

et al. 2020

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This study aims at investigating the contribution of two classes of compounds, flavonoids and iridoids, to the bioactivity of Arbutus unedo L. leaves and fruits. The impact of different extraction procedures on phytochemicals content and hypoglycemic, antioxidant, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities of A. unedo fresh and dried plant materials was investigated. Ellagic acid 4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside, and norbergenin were identified for the first time in this genus by using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Three iridoids (gardenoside, geniposide, unedoside) are specifically identified in the leaves. Interestingly, asperuloside was extracted only from dried fruits by ethanol with Soxhlet apparatus. Extracts were screened for their potential antioxidant activities by using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Activity Power (FRAP), and β-carotene bleaching tests. Based on the Global Antioxidant Score (GAS) calculation, the most promising antioxidant extract was obtained by hydroalcoholic maceration of dried leaves that showed half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.42 and 0.98 μg/mL in ABTS and DPPH assays, respectively. The hypoglycaemic activity was investigated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests. Extracts obtained by ethanol ultrasound extraction of fresh leaves and hydroalcoholic maceration of fresh fruits (IC50 of 19.56 and 28.42 μg/mL, respectively) are more active against α-glucosidase than the positive control acarbose (IC50 of 35.50 μg/mL). Fruit extracts exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity.

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Section: Inhibitory Effects On Nitric Oxide (No) Productionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contribution of Flavonoids and Iridoids to the Hypoglycaemic, Antioxidant, and Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities of Arbutus unedo L.

et al. 2020

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“…Almost all parts of the A. unedo plant (leaves, fruits, bark, roots and honey) have been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of many different diseases. Many ethnobotanical studies confirmed biological potential of A. unedo extracts in the treatment of kidney, gastrointestinal, dermatologic, urological, cardiovascular and hypertensive diseases and diabetes [1,2]. The medicinal characteristics of this plant is related to pharmacologically active compounds which are present in different parts of plant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Chemical Composition and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity of Volatile Oil from Leaves of Arbutus unedo L. from Croatia

Politeo

Ercegovic

2019

Asian J. Chem.

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The volatile oil from leaves of Arbutus unedo L. from Croatia was subjected to chemical composition and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity. The tested volatile oil was dominated by nonterpene compounds, with (E)-2-decenal, nonanal, nonanoic acid and octanol as main compounds. Terpene compounds were identified in lower quantity, with linalool and α-terpineol as main ones. Results showed low to moderate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition potential of tested oil, for tested concentration of 1 mg/mL.

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“…Regarding secondary metabolites, AuL showed a high concentration of arbutin, a glycoside hydroquinone which is considered the main active principle of this plant [41]. The NMR profiling highlighted also the presence of O-rhamnosyl flavonoid, showing typical signals of α-rhamnose, namely the doublet of the methyl group resonating around δ 0.89.…”

Section: Phytochemical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Antitumor Potential and Phytochemical Profile of Plants from Sardinia (Italy), a Hotspot for Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin

Cappadone

Mandrone

Chiocchio

et al. 2019

Plants

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Sardinia (Italy), with its wide range of habitats and high degree of endemism, is an important area for plant-based drug discovery studies. In this work, the antitumor activity of 35 samples from Sardinian plants was evaluated on human osteosarcoma cells U2OS. The results showed that five plants were strongly antiproliferative: Arbutus unedo (AuL), Cynara cardunculus (CyaA), Centaurea calcitrapa (CcA), Smilax aspera (SaA), and Tanacetum audibertii (TaA), the latter endemic to Sardinia and Corsica. Thus, their ability to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis was tested. All extracts determined cell cycle block in G2/M phase. Nevertheless, the p53 expression levels were increased only by TaA. The effector caspases were activated mainly by CycA, TaA, and CcA, while AuL and SaA did not induce apoptosis. The antiproliferative effects were also tested on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Except for AuL, all the extracts were able to reduce significantly cell population, suggesting a potential antiangiogenic activity. The phytochemical composition was first explored by 1H NMR profiling, followed by further purifications to confirm the structure of the most abundant metabolites, such as phenolic compounds and sesquiterpene lactones, which might play a role in the measured bioactivity.

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Arbutus unedo L.: From traditional medicine to potential uses in modern pharmacotherapy

Cited by 60 publications

References 82 publications

Contribution of Flavonoids and Iridoids to the Hypoglycaemic, Antioxidant, and Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities of Arbutus unedo L.

Contribution of Flavonoids and Iridoids to the Hypoglycaemic, Antioxidant, and Nitric Oxide (NO) Inhibitory Activities of Arbutus unedo L.

Chemical Composition and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Activity of Volatile Oil from Leaves of Arbutus unedo L. from Croatia

Antitumor Potential and Phytochemical Profile of Plants from Sardinia (Italy), a Hotspot for Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin

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