Polar extracts from Gymnosporia senegalensis (syn. Maytenus senegalensis) root bark, its effects on nociception, edema, and malarial infection

Abstract

BackgroundGymnosporia senegalensis (syn. Maytenus senegalensis) is a commonly used medicinal plant for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. MethodsThe crude methanol extract (CMGS) and the polar fraction (PFGS) from G. senegalensis root bark were tested for antimalarial, antiedematogenic (paw edema induced by egg albumin), and antinociceptive (hot plate) activities. The PFGS was characterized using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). Hematological and biochemical parameters were analyzed after 3 weeks of administration and 2 weeks after the extract intake was discontinued. ResultsThe PFGS at 200 and 300 mg/kg exhibited higher suppression of malaria infection (43.70 ± 1.16 and 47.69 ± 1.03% all p < 0.01) and prolonged the survival days of the mice better than the CMGS at 800 mg/kg (29.72±0.23% p < 0.05) but lower than the chloroquine (73.13 ± 2.34% p < 0.001). The CMGS caused 51.92 ± 2.34 and 54.66 ± 1.35% inhibition of paw edema at 400 and 800 mg/kg while the PFGS caused 57.12 ± 3.35 and 58.22 ± 2.90% inhibition of paw edema at 200 and 300 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, CMGS demonstrated a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect (p < 0.01) against thermal-induced pain in rats. GC–MS analysis revealed the presence of four polar compounds: 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-2(4H)-benzofuranone (isomintlactone); ((20a)-3‑hydroxy-2-oxo-24-nor-friedela-1(10),3,5,7-tetraen (pristimerin); 2H,6H-pyrano[3,2-b] xanthen-6-one (jacareubin) and 5,7,3′-trihydroxy-6,4′-dimethoxyisoflavone (iristectrorigenin) as the major components of PFGS, having percentage occurrence of 25.89, 21.95, 20.97 and 9.23, respectively. The serum activities and concentrations of AST, ALT, ALP, total proteins, sodium, and potassium increases after 3 weeks of administration and were reversed 2 weeks after the extracts intake was discontinued. Conclusionour studies provide preclinical evidence of the antimalarial, antiedematogenic, and antinociceptive activities of CMGS and PFGS suggesting its potentials for the treatment of malaria and inflammation diseases.