Unveiling Pharmacological Responses and Potential Targets Insights of Identified Bioactive Constituents of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Leaves through In Vivo and In Silico Approaches

Abstract

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. is traditionally used by the indigenous communities of Bangladesh to treat different diseases, such as pain, edema, tumor, jaundice, and skin infections. This study tested neuro-pharmacological, anti-nociceptive, and antidiarrheal activities by in vivo and in silico experiments for the metabolites extracted (methanol) from the leaves of Cuscuta reflexa (MECR). During the anxiolytic evaluation analyzed by elevated plus maze and hole board tests, MECR (200 and 400 mg/kg) exhibited a significant dose-dependent reduction of anxiety-like behavior in mice. Similarly, mice treated with MECR demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in the time of immobility in both forced swimming and tail suspension tests. In addition, anti-nociceptive activity was assessed by the chemical-induced (acetic acid and formalin) pain models. In both cases, 400 mg/kg was found to be most effective and significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited acetic acid stimulated writhing and formalin-induced licking (pain response) in mice. Furthermore, antidiarrheal efficacy determined by the castor-oil induced diarrheal model manifested an evident inhibition of diarrheal stool frequency. In parallel, previously isolated bioactive compounds were documented based on the biological activities and subjected to in silico studies to correlate with the current pharmacological outcomes. The selected isolated compounds (15) displayed favorable binding affinities to potassium channels, human serotonin receptor, COX-1, COX-2, M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, and 5-HT3 receptor proteins. Additionally, the ADME/T and toxicological properties were justified to unveil their drug-like properties and toxicity level. Overall, Cuscuta reflexa is bioactive and could be a potential source for the development of alternative medicine.

Unravelling the Biological Activities of the Byttneria pilosa Leaves Using Experimental and Computational Approaches

“…Pain and inflammation are another important dominant factor for mental and behavioural disarrays [ 5 ]. Several neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and serotonin have parallel expression pathways for both nociception and neuropsychiatric disorders [ 6 ].…”

An integrated exploration of pharmacological potencies of Bischofia javanica (Blume) leaves through experimental and computational modeling

“…In this regard, the anxiolytic potentials of MEBJ have been investigated using EPM and hole board tests. In the EPM test, drug possessing anxiolytic activity increases the percentage of entries into open arms and total time spent into open arms, whereas anxiogenic reduces in both parameters [ 69 , 70 ]. In our study, both doses (200 and 400 mg/kg) of MEBJ increased the percentage of entries into open arms during the EPM test.…”

Intervention in Neuropsychiatric Disorders by Suppressing Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Signal and Exploration of In Silico Studies for Potential Lead Compounds from Holigarna caustica (Dennst.) Oken leaves

“…Among various significant animal tests, elevated plus maze (EPM) is a popular paradigm due to quick valuation of the possible anxiety modulating responses in mice [57]. The typical EPM tool has two opposite open and two closed arms, whereas the open arena is supposed to be more aversive for the animals, and any anxiolytic agent stimulates the mice to the open arm exploration [58]. However, during the experiment, mice treated with MEHC demonstrated a reduction in anxiety-like behavior by reflecting increased entries to and time spent in the open alleys.…”