Abstract
The smoketree (Cotinus coggygria) is a historically known medicinal plant from Southeast Europe. Its ethnomedicinal use in skin and mucosal lesions is commonly accepted across countries. Other utilizations reported locally include fever reduction, cardiac diseases, hypertension, urinary diseases, cough, asthma, hemorrhoids, diabetes, numbness of arm, liver disease, and cancer. Departing from the smoketree’s traditional uses, this review summarizes investigations on the phytochemistry and bioactivity of the plant. In vitro and in vivo experiments supporting wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, cytotoxic, antioxidative, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects are presented. Metabolites from smoketree that are responsible for the main pharmacological effects of smoketree are pointed out. Furthermore, the review performs a comparison between C. coggygria and the lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum). The latter is a comprehensively studied species used in Asian phytotherapy, with whom the European smoketree shares a consistent pool of secondary metabolites. The comparative approach aims to open new perspectives in the research of smoketree and anticipates an optimized use of C. coggygria in therapy. It also points out the relevance of a chemosystematic approach in the field of medicinal plants research.
Highlights
Heartwood/dietly ether fraction of methanol extract standardized to its content in S, B, fustin, 2,3dihydroquercetagetin, and quercetin Aqueous infusion from Cotinus coggygria leaves
Young shoots/ethyl acetate fraction of acetone extract Total flavonoids isolated from C. coggygria leaves
EC50 2.21 ± 0.18 mg/ml for COX-1 inhibition; EC50 4.10 ± 0.27 mg/ml for COX-2 inhibition; Extract had best results in comparison to that of other 8 medicinal plants External application of 2 mg extract reduced inflammation with 50%; reduction with 26% of the skin dehydration induced by 12-Otetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate Protective effect against inflammation following the intragastric administration of the extract (10 ml/kg) for 15 days Doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg reduced theoedema with 46.5 ± 18.5% and 76.7 ± 0.0%, respectively Oral administration of 80–160 mg/kg 2 h before and 5 h after formalin application reduced edema, decreased proliferation of cellular elements and raised capillary resistance
Summary
A methanol extract and its fractions (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) obtained from leaves smoketree were evaluated in vitro with regard to their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities. Some works explored the cytotoxic effect of smoketree extracts and metabolites on different cell lines, while others pointed out protective effects via antioxidant and antimutagenic activities (Westenburg et al, 2000; Maticet al., 2013).
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