Systematic Review of Potential Anticancerous Activities of Erythrina senegalensis DC (Fabaceae)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to carry out a systematic review of the substances isolated from the African medicinal plant Erythrina senegalensis, focusing on compounds harboring activities against cancer models detailed in depth herein at both in vitro and in vivo preclinical levels. The review was conducted through Pubmed and Google Scholar. Nineteen out of the forty-two secondary metabolites isolated to date from E. senegalensis displayed interesting in vitro and/or in vivo antitumor activities. They belonged to alkaloid (Erysodine), triterpenes (Erythrodiol, maniladiol, oleanolic acid), prenylated isoflavonoids (senegalensin, erysenegalensein E, erysenegalensein M, alpinumisoflavone, derrone, warangalone), flavonoids (erythrisenegalone, senegalensein, lupinifolin, carpachromene) and pterocarpans (erybraedine A, erybraedine C, phaseollin). Among the isoflavonoids called “erysenegalensein”, only erysenealenseins E and M have been tested for their anticancerous properties and turned out to be cytotoxic. Although the stem bark is the most frequently used part of the plant, all pterocarpans were isolated from roots and all alkaloids from seeds. The mechanisms of action of its metabolites include apoptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy and mitophagy via the modulation of cytoplasmic proteins, miRNA and enzymes involved in critical pathways deregulated in cancer. Alpinumisoflavone and oleanolic acid were studied in a broad spectrum of cancer models both in vitro and in preclinical models in vivo with promising results. Other metabolites, including carpachromen, phaseollin, erybraedin A, erysenegalensein M and maniladiol need to be further investigated, as they display potent in vitro effects.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties of Various E. senegalensis Extracts

“…Both extracts contain substances whose cytotoxic effects are well demonstrated such as erythrisenegalone, alpinumisoflavone, auriculatin (or auriculasin) and sigmoidin H [10,27,29,31,32,[86][87][88][89][90]. According to the known low to moderate potency of these compounds [23] and their limited abundance within the extracts, other compounds newly identified in E. senegalensis in this study might contribute significantly to their anticancer properties. MeOH extract contained 1,4-benzenediol (hydroquinone), 2 ,4 ,6 -trihydroxy chalcone, ergostanol and uvaol, in comparison to the EtOAc subfraction, which might be enriched in 16:3-Glc-stigmasterol, 22-hydroxy-campesterol, hexadecanoic acid and feruloyldihydro-beta-sitosterol.…”

“…The main phytochemical groups present in the stem bark of E. senega- Although cancer initiation and pathogenesis may be potentiated or aggravated by oxidative stress [54][55][56] numerous anticancer agents trigger severe oxidative stress and damage in cancer cells, leading to cell death [57]. Considering the 42 known compounds in E. senegalensis identified to date [23], the probability that E. Senegalensis extracts may have an impact on the cellular oxidative balance is high. Accordingly, total extracts of the plant were excellent scavengers of free radicals as well as inhibitors of oxidative enzymes such as lipoxygenase [19,58].…”

“…Among the compounds isolated from E. senegalensis to date harboring anticancer effects in vitro or in vivo, most of them are prenylated flavonoids or isoflavonoids and triterpenes [23] (Figure 1). The anticancer effects' mechanisms were at least partly deciphered for oleanolic acid [24,25], erythrodiol [26], alpinumisoflavone [27][28][29][30], derrone [31,32], warangalone [33], erybraedins A [34], C [35,36] and phaseolin [37] that generally trigger apoptosis.…”

Cytotoxicity, Antioxidant Activities, GC-MS and HPLC Fingerprint Analyses of Different Extracts of Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC

“…(III) &] of D. tortuosum leaves were subjected to chemical profiling through the HPLC-fingerprint technique to identify their chemical ingredients and to characterize the available classes of secondary metabolites [43]. In this study, fourteen standard phenolics were used as reference compounds, including gallic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (2), catechin (3), caffeic acid (4), syringic acid ( 5), rutin (6), ellagic acid (7), coumaric acid (8), vanillin (9), ferulic acid (10), naringenin (11), propyl gallate (12), quercetin (13), and cinnamic acid (14). The obtained results revealed the variable amounts of the above-mentioned standard compounds in the tested samples.…”

“…Among them, fatty acids fundamentally compose lipid molecules, hormones, and cell membranes, serving as an energy source for cells and playing a key role in energetic metabolic and structural activities [3]. Many species in this family are renowned in traditional medicine for their use as anti-perspirants, diuretics [4], and in the treatment of nephritis [5], diabetes, leukemia, uterine cancer [6], diarrhea, cough, cramps, and sores of the mouth [7].…”