In silico pharmacology and bioavailability of bioactive constituents from Triclisia subcordata (Oliv), an underutilized medicinal plant in Nigeria

Abstract

Medicinal plants are rich sources of traditional medicines from which many modern medicines are made. Triclisia subcordata Oliv. is one among the underutilized medicinal plants in the Southwestern part of Nigeria. Therefore, this study was designed to present comprehensive data from the literature on pharmacological uses of T. subcordata and its phytochemistry, and to predict the pharmacology and bioavailability of the phytoconstituents isolated so far from Triclisia subcordata through an in silico approach. T. subcordata has high antioxidant activity and so it isthus used to treat oxidative stress-related diseases such as inflammation and diabetes. It also has antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial and smooth muscle relaxing properties. It is a potent inhibitor of enzymes such as alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. It has also traditionally been used in cancer treatment. One of the bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids isolated from this plant, cycleanine, showed selectivity for ovarian cancer cell lines. The presence of phytochemicals such as cyanogenic glycosides and tannins in low concentrations in T. subcordata has also been reported to make it edible to humans. The results of predicted absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity was analyzed on the webserver ’ADEMTLab 2.0‘ . Prediction of activity studies for the four bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids isolated so far from this plant supported anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antimalarial activities as well as muscle relaxant effect. Moreover, new activities including stimulation of leukopoiesis, inhibition of membrane permeability , inhibition of kinase and nicotinic alpha4beta4 receptor agonist properties were also predicted through in silico investigation. From our findings, these phytoconstituents could be lead candidates in drug discovery, since this plant is safe for human consumption.