Phytochemical Screening of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson (Apocynaceae) Latex, In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Incision Wound Repair in Mice

Abstract

Himatanthus sucuuba, also known as “Bellaco caspi”, is a medicinal plant whose latex, stem bark, and leaves possess phenolic acids, lupeol, β-dihydro-plumbericinic acid, plumericin, and plumeride, among other components. Some of these have been linked to such biological activities as antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical compounds of H. sucuuba latex, as well as its in vitro cytotoxicity and wound healing effect in mice. Latex was collected in the province of Iquitos, Peru. Phytochemical analysis was carried out with UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on two colon tumor cell lines (SW480 and SW620) and non-malignant cells (human keratinocytes, HaCaT, and Chinese hamster ovary, CHO-K1). The mice were distributed into two groups, as follows: Group I—control (n = 10; without treatment); II—(n = 10) H. sucuuba latex; wounds were induced with a scalpel in the dorsal–cervical area and treatments were applied topically twice a day on the incision for 10 days. Molecular docking was carried out on the glycogen synthase kinase 3β protein. Twenty-four chemical compounds were determined, mainly flavonoid-type compounds. Latex did not have a cytotoxic effect on tumor cells with IC50 values of more than 500 µg/mL. The latex had a regenerative effect on wounds in mice. Acacetin-7-O-neohesperidoside had the best docking score of -9.9 kcal/mol. In conclusion, H. sucuuba latex had a wound healing effect in mice, as confirmed by histological study. However, a non-cytotoxic effect was observed on colon tumor cells SW480 and SW620.

Dodonaea viscosa Jacq. induces cytotoxicity, antiproliferative activity, and cell death in colorectal cancer cells via regulation of caspase 3 and p53

“…The ionization source parameters were set using a positive and negative ion mode as follows: spray voltage 3.5/2.5 KV; capillary temperature 260 °C; gas carrier N2 (sheath gas flow rate 48, sweep gas flow rate 1); gas heater temperature 300 °C; S-lens RF level 100; normalized collision energy 30. Full MS scan parameters: range 120-1,500 m/z; resolution 35,000; microscans 1; AGC target 5 × 10 6 ; maximum IT 80 ms. MS 2 parameters: resolution 17,500; AGC target 1 × 10 6 ; maximum IT 100 ms (Herrera-Calderón et al, 2021). Data acquisition and processing were performed with a Thermo XcaliburTM software version 3.0 (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, United States) with the Qual Browser, and metabolite annotations were performed with MS-Dial software version 4.70 (Riken, Osaka University, Suita City, Japan) using the MS-Dial metabolomics MPS spectral kit library (available at: https://prime.psc.riken.jp/compms/msdial/main.html; last updated on 13 April 2021).…”

Tap the sap – investigation of latex-bearing plants in the search of potential anticancer biopharmaceuticals

“…Contrastingly, a non-cytotoxic effect of the latex of H. succuba was observed in 2 colon tumor cell lines. ( Herrera-Calderón et al., 2021 ). Isolated compounds from H. succuba latex, including apigenin, showed antitumor properties ( Herrera-Calderón et al., 2021 ).…”

“…( Herrera-Calderón et al., 2021 ). Isolated compounds from H. succuba latex, including apigenin, showed antitumor properties ( Herrera-Calderón et al., 2021 ). A study carried out in Brazil involved the H. bracteatus (A.DC.)…”

“…A study carried out in Brazil involved the H. bracteatus (A.DC.) Woodson plant, whose latex had been used prior to treat external ulcers and tumors ( da Silva et al., 2016 ; Herrera-Calderón et al., 2021 ). The chloroform partition from the ethanolic extract from its latex showed cytotoxic activity against several tumor cell lines: mouse melanoma, human hepatocellular carcinoma, human promyelocytic leukemia, human chronic myelocytic leukemia.…”

Protective effect of Amazonian Himatanthus sucuuba extracts in Drosophila melanogaster exposed to Paraquat

“…(Apocynaceae) is a genus composed of about thirteen species of trees and shrubs, widely distributed in Central and South America, particularly in Brazil (Herrera-Calderón et al, 2021). Himantathus sucuuba has biological activity: antimalarial, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antileishmanial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antidepressant, immunoregulatory, cytotoxic, and genotoxic.…”