Abstract
Zanthoxylum rhetsa is an aromatic tree, known vernacularly as “Indian Prickly Ash”. It has been predominantly used by Indian tribes for the treatment of many infirmities like diabetes, inflammation, rheumatism, toothache and diarrhea. In this study, we identified major volatile constituents present in different solvent fractions of Z. rhetsa bark using GC-MS analysis and isolated two tetrahydrofuran lignans (yangambin and kobusin), a berberine alkaloid (columbamine) and a triterpenoid (lupeol) from the bioactive chloroform fraction. The solvent fractions and purified compounds were tested for their cytotoxic potential against human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) and mouse melanoma (B16-F10) cells, using the MTT assay. All the solvent fractions and purified compounds were found to be non-cytotoxic to HDF cells. However, the chloroform fraction and kobusin exhibited cytotoxic effect against B16-F10 melanoma cells. The presence of bioactive lignans and alkaloids were suggested to be responsible for the cytotoxic property of Z. rhetsa bark against B16-F10 cells.
Highlights
Skin is the largest organ of the body, protecting it from many external stresses such as radiation, temperature, chemicals and microbes
Our findings suggest that the presence of compounds such as lignans and alkaloids plays an important role in the overall cytotoxic effects of Z. rhetsa bark extract towards the melanoma B16-F10 cell line
All the solvent fractions of the bark extract and the isolated compounds were found to be relatively non-toxic to human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cells
Summary
Skin is the largest organ of the body, protecting it from many external stresses such as radiation, temperature, chemicals and microbes. The squamous and basal skin cancers, which are non-melanoma cancers, are common and not life threatening. Current methods of treatment for melanoma cancers include cryotherapy, external surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, biological therapy and targeted drug therapy such as with vemurafenib, dabrafenib, and trametinib [2]. All of these methods of treatment have certain limitations such as high costs, side effects and reoccurrence. Previous studies have revealed the anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic activities of the plant extract, to the best of our knowledge, the potential of Z. rhetsa bark extract to protect against skin cancer has not been investigated. We report the isolation and identification of four bioactive constituents from the chloroform fraction of the Z. rhetsa bark extract
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
