Bufadienolides of Kalanchoe species: an overview of chemical structure, biological activity and prospects for pharmacological use

Abstract

Toad venom is regarded as the main source of bufadienolides; however, synthesis of these substances takes also place in a variety of other animal and plant organisms, including ethnomedicinal plants of the Kalanchoe genus. Chemically, bufadienolides are a group of polyhydroxy C-24 steroids and their glycosides, containing a six-membered lactone (α-pyrone) ring at the C-17β position. From the pharmacological point of view, bufadienolides might be a promising group of steroid hormones with cardioactive properties and anticancer activity. Most of the literature concerns bufadienolides of animal origin; however, the medicinal use of these compounds remains limited by their narrow therapeutic index and the risk of development of cardiotoxic effects. On the other hand, plants such as Kalanchoe are also a source of bufadienolides. Kalanchoe pinnata (life plant, air plant, cathedral bells), Kalanchoe daigremontiana (mother of thousands) and other Kalanchoe species are valuable herbs in traditional medicine of Asia and Africa. The present review focuses on the available data on chemical structures of 31 compounds, biological properties and prospects for therapeutic use of bufadienolides from Kalanchoe species. Furthermore, it presents some new investigational trends in research on curative uses of these substances.

Identification of Flavonoids and Bufadienolides and Cytotoxic Effects of Kalanchoe daigremontiana Extracts on Human Cancer Cell Lines

“…The HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS method revealed significant differences between the chemical composition of dichloromethane extract and 2 other extracts (water and ethanol). The dichloromethane extract was rich in bufadienolides and contained 6 compounds (B-1 to B-6) identified according to the obtained ultraviolet (UV) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) spectra (▶ Table 1) [2,14]. All compounds are well-known constituents of K. daigremontiana leaves [14].…”

“…vated mainly for its ornamental value and medicinal applications in the household treatment of skin irritation and wounds [2,8].…”

Knowledge and interactions of the local community with the herpetofauna in the forest reserve of Quininí (Tibacuy-Cundinamarca, Colombia)

“…Previous studies have also reported these uses in other Latin American countries [62][63][64] and other regions of the world [65,66]. Besides, in recent decades there has been increasing evidence on the possibility of pharmacological synthesis based on chemical components obtained from secretions, tissue, and venom extracted from amphibians and reptiles [67][68][69][70], which shows the correspondence between the use of species in the traditional culture, as well as in current and future applications in medicine.…”

Bryophyllum pinnatum in the treatment of restless legs syndrome: A case series documented with polysomnography

“…This neurosedative effect could later be confirmed in a second study, which also revealed muscle relaxant effects . Some of the bufadienolides present in Bryophyllum species are thought to be responsible for the sedative effects …”

“…Arousals reduction, which can be interpreted as a positive effect on sleep stability, was shown to occur in the course of RLS treatment with the benzodiazepine clonazepam . This strengthens earlier suggestions of the GABAergic effects of (some) BP components, but future experimental research and randomized clinical trials would be required to confirm them. Interestingly, the patient who did not show improvements either in RLS symptoms or in sleep quality (number 3, female) was able to abstain from benzodiazepines.…”