Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 245-253. 2008.

 

 

Phytochemical Investigation and Pharmocological Studies of the Flowers of Pithecellobium dulce

 

P.G.R. Chandran1 and S. Balaji2

1Lecturer in Chemistry, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu-613402, India

2Lecturer in Bioinformatics, Department of Biotechnology, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal University, Manipal-576104, India

 

2Corresponding Author: Tel: mobile-9895592347

E-mail: blast_balaji@rediffmail.com

 

Issued 24 May 2008

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

To evaluate the effects from the fresh flowers of Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth, belonging to the family of Leguminosae subfamily Mimosoideae, a glycoside quercitin has been isolated. The ethyl acetate soluble of P. dulce containing the above glycoside was studied both in silico and in vitro for the anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. The concatenation of the in silico and in vivo has been done. Results indicated the activity of this flavonol glycoside in the protection of HRBC lysis and against the gram positive micro organisms, thus confirming its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

INTRODUCTION

Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth, belonging to the family of Leguminosae, subfamily Mimosoideae, is a small evergreen thorny tree1. The tree is reported to be active against veneral diseases2. The decoction is given as enema3. The seeds contain saponin4. As there is no work on the flowers of P. dulce, the flowers of same have now been examined for their poly-phenolic constituents. The crude extract of the flowers has also been investigated in silico and in vitro for their anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and our results are presented in this communication.

METHODOLOGY

From the fresh flowers (300g) of P. dulce collected from Thanjavur district of Tamilnadu, India, during February, were dried in shade and extracted with 80% ethanol in cold. The combined alcoholic extract was concentrated in vacuum and the aqueous concentrate was successfully fractionated with benzene, peroxide free Et2O and EtOAc. The benzene fraction did not yield any crystalline solid. The residue from the EtOAc fraction was taken up in minimum quantity of Me2CO and left in an ice chest for about a week when yellow solid separated. On re-crystallization from aqueous methanol, it came out as pale yellow needles, m.p 313-315C (yield 0.01 %).

 

                  255,269sh, 370 ;(MeOH+NaOMe):262sh,321,420(dec.);(MeOH+AlCl3):

 267,303,458 ;( MeOH+AlCl3+HCl):267,303,351,428;(MeOH+NaOAc): 

 275,328,390 ;( MeOH+NaOAc+H3BO3):262,303sh, 386;

                           red color with Mg-HCl5, Olive green color with alc.Fe3+, golden yellow         

                           color with NH3 and NaOH, yellow solution with pale green fluorescence       

                           with conc.H2SO4, yellow under UV/NH3, responded to Horhammer-

                           Hansel 19, Wilson’s boric acid test 20 and Gibbs test21 test indicative of a        

                           flavonol 3-O glycoside and the identity was confirmed by co- and mixed        

                           PC with an authentic sample of quercetin.

 

The 13C- NMR data of the isolated compound is given as follows:

 

                                13C-NMR (125MHz,DMSO-D6,TMS) δ ppm:157.3(C-2),134.2(C-              

                        3),178.1(C-4).162.1(C-5),99.5(C-6),165.0(C-7),94.3(C-8),157.0(C-                       

                        9),104.8(C-10),121.8(C-11),116.0(C-21),145.6(C-31),148.9(C-41),116.0(C-

                        51) and 122.0(C-61)

 

The UV and 13C- NMR spectral data were in agreement with the flavonol quercetin.

 

A solution of the glycoside was hydrolyzed (7%H2SO4, 100˚ C, 2 hr.) and the aglycone was characterized as quercetin (m.m.p, uv data, Rf, acetate and methyl ether) and the sugar was identified as rhamnose. A quantitative hydrolysis of the same by the Folin-wu’s micro method 22 revealed to be a monoside. The glycoside was thus characterized as quercetin 3-O rhamnoside (quercitrin) and the identity was confirmed by direct comparison with an authentic sample of quercitin. Based on the UV and 13C- NMR spectral data, it is crystal clear that the isolate is flavonol quercetin. The structure of the quercitrin was drawn by using ACD-3D ChemSketch.5 Then we performed the conversion of the drawn chemical structure into SMILES 7 notation, so as to predict biological activity and to find similar chemical compounds. The SMILES notation used for screening similar compounds and biological activity is given below.

C5(O)C(O)C(O)C2[O+]([H-]C1C(O)C(O)CCC1C3C(O2)C(O)C4C(O)CC(O)CC4O3)C5

 

To find similar chemical compounds we have screened the compounds from NCI. 8 For predicting biological activity we used PASS. 6

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (quercitrin) see figure 1, has been isolated from the fresh flowers of P. dulce. The UV spectrum of the glycoside exhibited two major absorption peaks at 350 nm (band I) and 256 nm (band II). The band I absorption of the glycoside is reminiscent of a flavonol skeleton. A comparison of band I absorption of the glycoside and that of the aglycone revealed that there may be 3-glycosilation in the flavonol. A bathochromic shift of 43 nm (band I) in NaOMe confirmed the presence of a free –OH at C-41 .The AlCl3 spectra (with and without HCl) showed four absorption peaks to reveal the presence of a free 5-OH group. It was confirmed by the bathochromic shift of 50 nm on the addition of AlCl3-HCl in the glycoside. The presence of a free –OH group at C-7 was evident from the +16 nm (band II) shift on the addition of NaOAc. The band I absorption  in AlCl3 spectrum is 30 nm more than that noticed on addition of AlCl3-HCl.This is indicative of the existence of an  O- dihydroxyl group in the B-ring. In the 1H-NMR spectrum (400MHz,DMSO-D6,TMS) the signal at δ 6.47 and 6.42 ppm corresponds to the A-ring protons at C-8 and C-6.The 5_OH protons resonates at δ 12.56 ppm.The proton C-51 appears at δ 6.86 ppm as a doublet. The signal δ 10.88 ppm can be traced to the-OH at C-7 and C-21.The C-61  protons show up at δ 7.30 ppm.The methyl protons of rhamnoside moiety resonate at δ1.18 nppm and the H-1 of rhamnoside resonates at δ5.31 ppm.The remaining sugar protons appear in the range of δ3.37-4.0 ppm Supporting evidence for the structure of the glycoside was provided by the analysis of 13C-NMR (100MHz, DMSO-D6, TMS) data. Due to glycosilation at 3-position, the C-2 and C-4 carbons absorb at δ 157.3 and 178.1 ppm respectively.                                                  

                                              

Figure 1:  Quercitrin structure.

The stick model shown in this picture (color by CPK) is based on the actual chemical structure provided by the analysis of 13C-NMR (100MHz, DMSO-D6, and TMS) data.

 

Thus on the basis of the above mentioned Physical and Chemical evidences the glycoside obtained from P. dulce has been characterized as quercetrin. Biological activity prediction is pivotal in any structure prediction. Based on the UV and 13C- NMR spectral data, it is crystal clear that the isolate is flavonol quercitrin. We were much interested to predict its biological activity. So as to predict structure activity relationship, for that the structure of the quercitrin was drawn by using ACD-3D ChemSketch v 5.12 5. We have performed in silico studies like chemical structure similarity search and the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances: PASS 6 prediction was done by converting the quercetin structure into the Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES notation) 7 proposed by Dave Weininger (Weininger, 1988). Finally we have found some similar structures in enhanced NCI database browser release 2. 8 The obtained quercitrin structure was submitted for Pass prediction and we obtained the 41 substructure chemical descriptors. We have taken Pa >0.7 and found that the highest hit had predicted membrane integrity agonist and anti-inflammatory activities. Because if the Pa >0.7, the substance is very likely to exhibit the activity in experiment. The list of predicted properties by PASS Pa >0.7 is given in the Table 1. The reliable effects and mechanisms are listed in Table 2, and 3.             

                      

Table 1: PREDICTED ACTIVITY

Pa

Pi

Activity

0,969

0,004

Membrane integrity agonist

0,891

0,004

Membrane permeability inhibitor

0,885

0,006

Vascular (periferal) disease treatment

0,849

0,002

Capillary fragility treatment

0,751

0,008

Topoisomerase II inhibitor

0,731

0,007

Emetic

0,728

0,006

Sweetener

0,725

0,005

Osmotic diuretic

 

 

Table: 2. PREDICTED RELIABLE EFFECTS.

 

Pa

Pi

Activity:

0.969

0.004

Membrane integrity agonist

0.969  

0.004         

Antiinflammatory

0.969  

0.004         

Antibacterial

0.969  

0.004         

Psychotropic

0.969  

0.004         

  Antiepileptic

0.969  

0.004         

Immunostimulant

0.969  

0.004         

Antiviral (HIV)

0.969  

0.004         

Antiviral (herpes)

0.969  

0.004         

Antineoplastic

0.969  

0.004         

Antiprotozoal

0.969  

0.004         

Dermatologic

0.969  

0.004         

 Antieczematic

0.969  

0.004         

Antiseborrheic

0.969  

0.004         

 Antiischemic

0.969  

0.004         

Antiischemic renal

 

Table: 3.  PREDICTED MECHANISMS

 

Pa

Pi

Activity

0.969  

0.004         

Membrane integrity agonist

0.969  

0.004         

 Antiinflammatory

0.969  

0.004         

Antineoplastic

0.969  

0.004         

 Antifungal

0.969  

0.004         

 Antiviral

0.969  

0.004         

Antiseborrheic

0.969  

0.004         

Antiviral (HIV)



So from the in silico predicted information, we have decided  to test the activity in vitro especially for the membrane permeability inhibitor (Table-1), membrane integrity agonist (Table 1, 2, 3), anti-bacterial effects(Table-2) and anti-inflammatory mechanisms (Table-2 & 3).

 

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY STUDIES

Lysosomal enzymes play an important role in the development of acute and chronic inflammation.9 Increased enzyme activity has been reported in certain types of experimental inflammation.10 The inhibitory effects of non-steroidal anti–inflammatory drugs on lysosomal enzymes have been proposed as an explanation for one of their many mechanisms of actions in vitro.11 Acidic anti-inflammatory compounds such as phenyl butazone, Mefenamic acid and indomethacin have been shown to exert their beneficial effect by inhibiting the activities of either released lysosomal enzyme or by stabilizing the lysosomal membrane12-14. It has been reported that the structure of RBC is similar to that of lysosomal membrane components.15 Since lysosomal membranes resemble human RBC (HRBC) membranes, the lysosomal membrane effects have been studied using HRBC. When the RBC is subjected to hypotonic stress, the release of haemoglobin from RBC is prevented by anti-inflammatory drugs because of the membrane stabilization. Hence the HRBC membrane stabilization by drugs against hypotonicity induced haemolysis serves as a very useful in vitro method for assessing the anti-inflammatory activity of compounds. In this present investigation, an in vitro study of the EtOAc isolates of P.dulce by finding the stabilization of the HRBC membrane against hypotonicity induced haemolysis has been made,16 the results are indicated in the Table 4 and the Graph-I. From the results the in silico predicted membrane permeability inhibitor (Table-1), membrane integrity agonist (Table 1, 2, 3), and anti-inflammatory mechanisms (Table-2 & 3) have been understood in vitro.

 

Table: 4: Stabilization Effect of isolates of P.dulce on the HRBC membrane stabilization against hypotonicity induced haemolysis.

 

Sl.

No

Concentration of

the drug in mg

Percentage

protection

1

10

               40

2

50

58

3

100

64

4

250

70

5

500

90

 

Based on the in vitro Stabilization Effect of isolates of P.dulce on the HRBC membrane stabilization against hypotonicity induced haemolysis, the tabular values are plotted as a graphical representation. (Graph-I)

 

Graph-I: The in vitro Stabilization Effect of isolates of P.dulce on the HRBC membrane stabilization against hypotonicity induced haemolysis. The concentration of the drug (in mg) used in the protection of HRBC membrane is plotted in the graph.

 

The crude extract was observed to be effective in stabilizing the HRBC membrane against hypotonicity induced haemolysis and hence would be effective as non steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds in the control of inflammation. With in the experimental range of dosages of (10 to 250 mg /ml) the flavonoid drug exhibited 70% protection at 250 mg dose and at subsequent doses, the protection increases and reached a maximum with a sharp increase at 500 mg. At higher concentrations the activity climbs up showing the anti-inflammatory activity of this flavonoid drug under in vitro experimental conditions dependent upon the concentration of the drug. The membrane is stabilized by the flavonoidal drug at a concentration of 500 mg.

 

 

 

ANTI-MICROBIAL STUDIES

In this investigation , the anti- bacterial activity of the residue of the EtOAc fraction containing the flavonoid glycoside  isolated from the flowers of P.dulce have been studied in vitro by Petri-dish method using Staphylococcus aureus a gram positive, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhii two  gram negative as test organisms. Anti-bacterials produce their effect by interfering with one or more vital metabolic pathways in the organism. The object of the treatment with an anti-microbial drug which is higher than the minimal effective concentration and which is maintained at that level until the organisms have been eliminated 17.The extracts of various medicinal plants containing flavonoids have been reported to possess anti- bacterial activity 18.A standard volume (2.5mL) of Mueller-Hinton agar medium that would support the growth of the test organisms was added to sterile Petri–dishes. Solutions of the test compound (EtOAc residue) at six different concentrations viz., 25, 50,100,200,300 and 400 mg/mL in sterile water were prepared. Standards containing streptomycin at concentration of 50,100 and 200 mg/mL and a control containing no drug were prepared. A standard inoculum of a suspension of turbidity equal to a McFarland standard 0.5 of the test organism was added to all Petri–dishes. After inoculation, the plates were incubated at 37˚C and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is found out after 48 hours of incubation. The number of colonies that grow on this subculture is then counted and compared to the number of CFU/mL (Colony Forming Units) in the original inoculum. In the anti-microbial studies only traces of the growth has been observed at a lower concentration of the drug. The growth of the organism is inhibited with higher concentration.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors express their thanks to their Dean, Dr. K .N. Somesekharan, and Dr. D. Venkappayya, Professor, School of Chemical & Bio Technology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamilnadu for their keen interest and constant encouragement .They are also grateful to Dr.K.M.Matthew, Rapinat herbarium, St.Josephs college, Tiruchiraapalli for his help in the identification of the plant.

 

REFERENCES

1.                       Allen, O. N. and Allen, E. K, The Leguminosae, A source book of characteristics, uses and modulation, Wisconsin press, Wisconsin, 1981, 812.

2.                       Duke, J. A. and Wain, K. K., Medicinal plant of the world, Computer index with more than 85,000 entries, 3 vols, 1981.

3.                       Chopra, R. N.; Nayar, S. L.; Chopra, I. L., The Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, C.S.I.R, New Delhi, 1956, 196.

4.                       Anonymous. The Wealth of India, Raw materials, C.S.I.R, NewDelhi, 1969, vol.140, P8.

5.                       Spessard, G. O., ACD labs/logP dB 3.5 and Chemsketch 3.5. J. Chem. Inf. Comput. Sci. 1998, 38, 218-230.

6.                       Lagunin, A.; Stepanchikova, A.; Filimonov, D. and Poroikov, V., PASS: prediction of activity spectra for biologically active subsatances. Bioinformatics. 2000, Vol 16, (No. 8), P 747-748, © Oxford University Press.

7.                       Weininger, D., "SMILES .3. depict: graphical depiction of chemical structures". J. Chem. Inf. Comp. Sci., 1990, 30(No.3), 237-243.

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            http://cactvs.cit.nih.gov/about3.html and http://cactvs.cit.nih.gov/ncidb/

9.                       Arigoni-Martelli, E., Inflammation and Anti-inflammatories, Spectrum publications, Inc, New york, 1977.

10.                   Dingle, J. T.; Lysosomes in Biology and Pathology, Edited by Dingle, J.T. and Fell, H. B., North Holland Publishing Company,Amsterdam,1970.

11.                   Trnavsky, K., ln: Anti-inflammatory agents-Chemistry and Pharmocology, (WhiteHouse, M.W.Ed.,) Academic press, New york, 1974, 2, 82.

12.                   Anderson, A. J., Biochemical Journal, 1963, 113:457.

13.                   Tanaka, K.; Isizuka, Y., Bio Chemical Pharmocology, 1968, 17, 2023.

14.                   Hariford, D. J.; Smith, M. J. H., Journal of Pharmocology, 1970, 22, 578.

15.                   Giessler, A. J.; Bekemeier, H.; Hirschelmann, R. and Bakathir, H. A., IN: Pharmocology, Bio Chemistry and Immunology of inflammatory reaction (Bekemeier, H and Hirschelmann, R., editions.) Martin Luther University, 1982.

16.                   Arivudainambi, R.; Sukumar, D.; Sethuraman, V.; Sulochana, N. and Sadique, J., An in-vitro study of the anti-inflammatory activity by RBC membrane stabilization, Satellite Symposium on Traditional Medicine as Adjunct to Asian Congress of Pharmocology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, 1985, P139.

17.                   Turner, P.; Richeas, A., Clinical Pharmacology, Churchil Livingston, London, 1978, 210.

18.                   .Khanna, P.; Sharma, O. P.; Seghal, M.; Bhargawa, C.;  Jain, M.; Goswami, A.; Singhvi, S.; Gupta, V.; Agarwal, R.; Sharma, P.; Jain. S. C., Indian Pharmaceutical Science, 1980, 42,113.

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