 Abstract | | |
Thrombous formation inside the blood vessels obstructs blood flow through the circulatory system leading hypertension, stroke to the heart, anoxia and so on. The complete deprivation of oxygen and infarction is a mode of cell death. Crude biologicals and their components possessing anti-thrombotic activity have been reported before. This study was aimed to investigate thrombolytic activity of ethanol extracts of four traditionally used medicinal plants. For this an in-vitro thrombolytic study was carried out along with streptokinase, and ethanol was taken as reference standard and negative control, respectively. The ethanol extracts (5 μg/μl) of Alpinia conchigera, Lannea grandis, Aglaonema hookerianum and Tridax procumbens 24.50%, 13.31%, 11.18%, and 8.70% clot lysis, respectively. Among the extracts studied Alpinia conchigera showed significant percent of clot lysis (24.50%) with reference to streptokinase (81.08%). Preliminary chemical group identification revealed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, tannins and reducing sugars important secondary metabolites. Keywords: Crude extracts, streptokinase, thrombolytic, traditional medicine
How to cite this article:
Sultana I, Noor M, Barua J, Mahmood A, Das MC, Islam M, Ibrahim M, Chowdhury M M. In-vitro anti-atherothrombosis activity of four Bangladeshi plants. Int J Green Pharm 2012;6:5-8 |
How to cite this URL:
Sultana I, Noor M, Barua J, Mahmood A, Das MC, Islam M, Ibrahim M, Chowdhury M M. In-vitro anti-atherothrombosis activity of four Bangladeshi plants. Int J Green Pharm [serial online] 2012 [cited 2013 May 23];6:5-8. Available from: http://www.greenpharmacy.info/text.asp?2012/6/1/5/97105 |
| Introduction | |  |
Bangladesh is a developing country. More than 75% people here are fully dependent upon the traditional medicine practioners (Kabiraj) for the treatment of various infectious and other life-threatening diseases. A clot inside the blood vessel called atherothrombosis is one of the major consequences of cardiovascular (CVS) diseases. Thrombolytic agents are used to dissolve the already formed clots in the blood vessels; however, these drugs have certain limitations which cause serious and sometimes fatal problems. At present streptokinase (SK) and urokinase (UK) are widely used for the treatment of thrombosis. Due to higher cost and unavailability, most of the poor people of various countries are still at risk to combat the thrombosis. Moreover, the SK and UK as compared to other thrombolytic drugs, their use is associated with hyper risk of haemorrhage, [1] severe anaphylactic reaction and lacks specificity. So, not only newer but also safest thrombolytic agents are essential to manage the present situation.
Many reports are available for antimicrobial, anticancer, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and other pharmacological activities of the suspected plant species. A. hookerianum and L. grandis revealed the presence of anticancer and antibacterial activities. [2] Significant antimicrobial and liver protective activity were observed in case of T. procumbens. [3],[4] The aqueous extract of O. corniculata revealed the presence of nephroprotective activity and it can be used to treat myocardial infarction. [5],[6]
The ethanol extract of A. conchigera was found to be the presence of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the plant A. conchigera possessed anticancer activity. [7],[8]
Herbal products are often perceived as safe because they are "natural". [9] Considerable efforts have been directed towards the discovery and development of natural products from biological sources. The aim of the present study was to screen the crude ethanol extracts of four (4) traditionally used plants viz., Alpinia conchigera Griffith. (Local name: Khatranga; Fam: Zingiberaceae), Lannea grandis Engl. (Local name: Jiyal, Bati; Fam: Anacardiaceae), Aglaonema hookerianum Schott. (Local name: Patabahar; Fam: Araceae) and Tridax procumbens L. (Local name: Tridara; Fam: Compositae) for their clot lysis (thrombolytic) property using an in-vitro procedure. [10]
| Materials and Methods | | |
Materials
The aerial parts of Alpinia conchigera, Lannea grandis, Aglaonema hookerianum and Tridax procumbens were collected from various regions of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The plant species were identified by the botanist, as CU-4331, BFRIH-0852, BFRIH-095 and RAJ-6205 for A. conchigera, L. grandis, A. hookerianum and T. procumbens, respectively, from Bangladesh. The plant materials were shade dried for 14 d and then pulverized.
Preparation of Extracts
After drying the plant materials were crushed into fine particles (powder) using a grinder. The powdered materials (200 g each) were packed in four separate amber coloured glass container and subjected to cold extraction (maceration) for 5 d using ethanol (97%) as solvent. Extracts obtained were passed through the Whattman filter paper no.1 and the crude extracts were concentrated by air cooler (at room temperature) and dried in a dessicator.
Identification Tests for Active Compounds
The tests were done to find the presence of the active chemical constituents such as alkaloids, glycosides, terpenoids and steroids, flavonoids, reducing sugar and tannins by the following procedure.
Alkaloids
Alkaloids are basic nitrogenous compounds with definite physiological and pharmacological activity. Alkaloid solution produces white yellowish precipitate when a few drops of Mayer's reagents are added. [11] Most alkaloids are precipitated from neutral or slightly acidic solution by Mayer's reagent. [12] The alcoholic extract was evaporated to dryness and the residue was heated on a boiling water bath with 2% hydrochloric acid. After cooling, the mixture was filtered and treated with a few drops of Mayer's reagent. The samples were then observed for the presence of turbidity or yellow precipitation.
Glycosides
Glycosides are compounds, which upon hydrolysis give rise to one or more sugars (glycones) and a compound which is not a sugar (aglycone or genine). To the solution of the extract in glacial acetic acid, few drops of ferric chloride and concentrated sulphuric acid are added, and observed for a reddish brown colouration at the junction of two layers and bluish green colour in the upper layer. [11]
Terpenoids and Steroids
Four milligrams of extract was treated with 0.5 ml of acetic anhydride and 0.5 ml of chloroform. Then, concentrated solution of sulphuric acid was added slowly and red violet colour was observed for terpenoid and green bluish colour for steroids. [11]
Flavonoids
Four milliliters of extract solution was treated with 1.5 ml of 50% methanol solution. The solution was warmed and metal magnesium was added. To this solution, 5 - 6 drops of concentrated hydrochloric acid was added and red colour was observed for flavonoids and orange colour for flavones. [11]
Tannins
To 0.5 ml of extract solution, 1 ml of water and 1 - 2 drops of ferric chloride solution was added. Blue color was observed for gallic tannins and green black for catecholic tannins. [13]
Reducing Sugar
To 0.5 ml of extract solution, 1 ml of water and 5 - 8 drops of Fehling's solution was added at hot and observed for brick red precipitate.
In-vitro Thrombolytic Activity Test
Experiments for clot lysis were carried as reported earlier. [10] In brief, 4 ml venous blood drawn from healthy volunteers and was distributed in six different (4 for 4 test extracts, 1 for reference standard and 1 for negative control) pre-weighed sterile microcentrifuge (alpin/ephendorf's) tubes (0.5 ml/tube) and incubated at 37°C for 45 min. After clot formation, serum was completely removed without disturbing the clot and each tube having clot was again weighed to determine the clot weight (clot weight = weight of clot containing tube - weight of tube alone).
To each micro-centrifuge tube containing pre-weighed clot, 100 μl (5μg/μl) of ethanol extract of four plants were added separately. As a positive control, 100 μl of streptokinase (DURAKINASE Inj. Dong Kook, Streptokinase powder for reconstitution; 1,500,000 unit / vial) and as a negative control, 100 μl of ethanol were separately added to the control tubes numbered. All the tubes were then incubated at 37°C for 90 min and observed for clot lysis. After incubation, fluid released was removed and tubes were again weighed to observe the difference in weight after clot disruption. Difference obtained in weight taken before and after clot lysis was expressed as percentage of clot lysis. The experiment was duplicated at different days with the blood samples of 10 healthy volunteers (both male and female have no using contraceptives and anticoagulants).
Statistics
The significance between %-clot lysis by streptokinase and herbal extracts by means of weight difference was tested by the paired t-test analysis. Data are expressed as mean ± standard error.
| Results | | |
In the phytochemical screening test, the crude ethanol extracts of the plant species revealed the presence of tannins and reducing sugars (almost all extracts), alkaloids (EEAC, EEAH and EETP), terpenoids and steroids (EEAC, EELG and EETP) and flavonoids (EEAH only) [Table 1].
Addition of 100 μl SK, a positive control (30,000 I.U.) to the clots along with 90 min of incubation at 37°C, showed 81.08% clot lysis. Clots when treated with 100 μl ethanol (negative control) showed only negligible clot lysis (2.47%). The mean difference in clot lysis percentage between positive and negative control was very significant (P value < 0.001). After treatment of clots with 100 μl of Tridax procumbens and Aglaonema hookerianum negligible clot lysis, i.e., 8.80% and 11.18%, respectively, were obtained but mean of percentage of clot lysis was more than ethanol alone. Lyses by the other two extractives viz Alpinia conchigera and Lannea grandis were 24.50% and 13.31%, respectively, and when compared with the negative control the mean clot lysis %difference was significant (P value < 0.001). Percent clot lysis obtained after treating clots with different herbs and appropriate controls is shown in [Figure 1]. Statistical representation of the effective clot lysis percentage by five herbal preparations, positive thrombolytic control (streptokinase) and negative control (ethanol) is tabulated in [Table 2].
| Discussion | | |
A number of studies have been conducted by various researchers to find out the herbs and natural food sources and their supplements having antithrombotic (anticoagulant and antiplatelet) effect and there is evidence that consuming such food leads to prevention of coronary events and stroke. [14],[15],[16],[17]
There are several thrombolytic drugs obtained from various sources. Some are modified further with the use of recombinant technology [18] in order to make these thrombolytic drugs more site specific and effective. Side effects related to these drugs have been reported that lead to further complications. [19]
Herbal preparations, if taken in appropriate dose, can lead to a better option for curing various ailments. Due to the inappropriate dosing, sometimes the crude naturals may lead acute and chronic ailments to the consumers. Toxicity of plant extract could be beneficial to mankind, however, if taken in higher/lethal dose plant extracts could be harmful. [20],[21]
From the traditional history, we have tried five herbal preparations [Table 2]. In context of the above discussion it would be interesting to investigate the causative components as well as the possible mechanism(s) for clot lysis by them with respect to their toxicity and other possible pharmacological effects.
| Conclusion | | |
In in-vitro preliminary clot lysis test, the four crude ethanolic extractives revealed the presence of anti-thrombolytic activity, however, in-vivo clot dissolving property and active component(s) are yet to be found out. Once found they may be incorporated as a thrombolytic agent for the improvement of patients suffering from atherothrombotic diseases.
| Acknowledgment | | |
We are grateful to QPS, Chittagong Bangladesh for providing the standard drugs (SK) during the study in a hurry. We are also thankful to the authority of Southern University Bangladesh for providing laboratory facilities.
| References | | |
| 1. | Rouf SA, Moo-Young M, Chisti Y. Tissue-type plasminogen activator: Characteristics, applications and production technology. Biotechnol Adv 1996;14:239-66. 
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 2. | Roy A, Biswas SK, Chowdhury A, Shill MC, Raihan SZ, Muhit MA. Phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities of two Bangladeshi medicinal plants. Pak J Biol Sci 2011;14:905-8.
[PUBMED] |
| 3. | Joshi PP, Patil SD, Silawat N, Deshmukh PT. Effect of Tridax procumbens (Linn.) on bile duct ligation-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Nat Prod Res 2011;25:1975-81.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 4. | Diwan PV, Tilloo LD, Kulkarni DR. Steroid depressed wound healing and Tridax procumbens. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 1983;27:32-6.
[PUBMED] |
| 5. | Abhilash PA, Nisha P, Prathapan A, Nampoothiri SV, Lijo Cherian O, Sunitha TK, et al. Cardioprotective effects of aqueous extract of Oxalis corniculata in experimental myocardial infarction. Exp Toxicol Pathol 2011;63:535-40.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 6. | Khan MR, Zehra H. Amelioration of CCl (4)-induced nephrotoxicity by Oxalis corniculata in rat. Exp Toxicol Pathol 2011. [In Press].
|
| 7. | Sulaiman MR, Zakaria ZA, Mohamad AS, Ismail M, Hidayat MT, Israf DA, et al. Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extract of Alpinia conchigera rhizomes in various animal models. Pharm Biol 2010;48:861-8.
[PUBMED] |
| 8. | Awang K, Azmi MN, Aun LI, Aziz AN, Ibrahim H, Nagoor NH. The apoptotic effect of 1's-1'-acetoxychavicol acetate from Alpinia conchigera on human cancer cells. Molecules 2010;15:8048-59.
[PUBMED] |
| 9. | Gesler WM. Therapeutic landscapes: Medical issues in light of the new cultural geography. Soc Sci Med 1992;34:735-46.
[PUBMED] |
| 10. | Prasad S, Kashyap RS, Deopujari JY, Purohit HJ, Taori GM Daginawala HF. Development of an in vitro model to study clot lysis activity of thrombolytic drugs. Thromb J 2006;4:14.
|
| 11. | Siddiqui AA, Ali M. Practical Pharmaceutical chemistry. 1 st ed. New Delhi: CBS Publishers and Distributors; 1997. p. 126-31.
|
| 12. | Evans WC. Trease and Evan's Pharmacognosy. 5 th ed. San Diego, California: Harcourt Brace and Company 2002. p. 336.
|
| 13. | Iyengar MA. Study of Crude Drugs. 8 th ed. Manipal, India: Manipal Power Press; 1995. p. 2.
|
| 14. | Bazzano LA, He J, Ogden LG, Loria CM, Vupputuri S, Myers L, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in US adults: The first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Epidemiologic Follow-up Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:93-9.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 15. | Gillman MW, Cupples LA, Gagnon D, Posner BM, Ellison RC, Castelli WP, et al. Protective effect of fruits and vegetables on development of stroke in men. JAMA 1995;273:1113-7.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 16. | Joshipura KJ, Ascherio A, Manson JE, Stampher MJ, Rimm EB, Speizer FE, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake in relation to risk of ischemic stroke. JAMA 1999;282:1233-9.
|
| 17. | Liu S, Manson JE, Lee IM, Cole SR, Hennekens CH, Willett WC, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women's Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72:922-8.
|
| 18. | Verstraete M. Third-generation thrombolytic drugs. Am J Med 2000;109:52-8.
[PUBMED] |
| 19. | Baruah DB, Dash RN, Chaudhari MR, Kadam SS. Plasminogen activators: A comparison. Vascul Pharmacol 2006;44:1-9.
[PUBMED] [FULLTEXT] |
| 20. | Nikai T, Mori N, Kishida M, Sugihara H, Tu AT. Isolation and biochemical characterization of hemorrhagic toxin f from venom of Crotalus atrox (western diamondback rattlesnake). Arch Biochem Biophys 1984;231:309-19.
[PUBMED] |
| 21. | Okwuosa VN, Molta BS, Ebele S. Toxicity of aqueous bark extract of the tree Balanites aegyptiaca on the fish Oreochromis niloticus. Appl Parasitol 1993;34:89-94.
[PUBMED] |
Correspondence Address:
Md. Torequl Islam
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern University Bangladesh, Academic Building-III, Mehedibag Road, Mehedibag- 4000, Chittagong
Bangladesh
DOI: 10.4103/0973-8258.97105
[Figure 1]
[Table 1], [Table 2] |
