The GenusSpilanthesEthnopharmacology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties: A Review

Abstract

Spilanthes spp. are popular, over-the-counter remedies; they are sold over the internet under various names and are widely used in traditional medicine in various cultures. This review will summarize the important reports on the ethnopharmacology, botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties as described in the literature from recent years (1920 to 2013). Spilanthes spp. are used for more than 60 types of disorders. They are reported to contain a number of biologically active phytochemicals, although a large number of ethnopharmacological uses have been documented; only a few of these species have been investigated for their chemical and biological activities. The studies are carried out mainly on Spilanthes extracts and a few metabolites substantiate the uses of these plants in traditional medicine. Well-conducted pharmacological studies are still needed for several traditional indications, and the mechanisms of action by which the plant extracts and the active compounds exert their pharmacological effects remain to be studied. They are predominantly used as extracts in personal care products, traditional medicines, and the pharmaceutical and culinary areas. Suggestions are made regarding some of the possible mechanisms of action as to how the known compounds may exert their biological activity.

Matrine derivative WM130 inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing EGFR/ERK/MMP-2 and PTEN/AKT signaling pathways

“…Several phytochemicals, such as matrine, may provide a new therapeutic method for cancer treatment by inducing apoptosis [31][32][33][34]. In the present study, the apoptosis of WM130-treated HCC cells and the expression of apoptosis-related factors were examined.…”

14-Thienyl Methylene Matrine (YYJ18), the Derivative from Matrine, Induces Apoptosis of Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells by Targeting MAPK and PI3K/Akt Pathways <b><i>in Vitro</i></b>

“…Due to uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells, one of the important properties of anticancer drugs is thought to be successful proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction [17,18]. It is reported that promotion of apoptosis is partially responsible for cancer suppression caused by some dietary phytochemicals such as matrine, which provides a new therapeutic strategy for reducing the incidence of cancers [19,20,21,22]. However, several experimental studies showed that not all phytochemicals are good options to prevent the development of cancers because of underwhelming anticancer activities and toxicity problems.…”

Methyl-N-methylanthranilate, a pungent compound fromCitrus reticulataBlanco leaves

“…Nevertheless, in 2011, isolation of an isoprene derivative from methylanthranilate with antinociceptive properties (Radulović et al, 2011) coming from the essential oil from leaves of Choysia ternata (Rutaceae) was reported. Later, a QSAR study with different esters from anthranilate report as that isopropyl, methyl, and propyl N-methylantharanilates are more potent antinociceptive than morphine and are non-toxic (Pinheiro et al, 2014). The mechanism of action could be different to the one exhibited by alkamides of the spilanthol type, mechanism which seems to directly involve neurons (Bryant & Mezine, 1999).…”

“…Plants with these types of physiological effect are used in traditional medicine as analgesics or for toothache treatments. The most wellknown plants with these activities are species from the Piperaceae family (Parmar et al, 1997), genus Spilanthes (Asteraceae) (Paulraj et al, 2013), some species of Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae) (Caolo & Stermitz, 1979), and latex from several species of the Euphorbiaceae family (Szolcsanyi et al, 1990). Other bioactive compound is capsaicin from fruit of Capsicum (Solanaceae) (Sharma et al, 2013), but the sensation caused is more burning than analgesic.…”