Genus Crinum Research Articles

Biotechnological interventions and production of galanthamine in Crinum spp.

Genus Crinum L. is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family having beautiful, huge, ornamental plants with umbels of lily-like blooms that are found in tropical and subtropical climates all over the world. For thousands of years, Crinum has been used as a traditional medicine to treat illnesses and disorders. Numerous distinct alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae group, whose most well-known properties include analgesic, anticholinergic, antitumor, and antiviral, have recently been discovered by phytochemical analyses. However, because of decades of overexploitation for their economically significant bioactive ingredients and poor seed viability and germination rates, these plants are now threatened in their native environments. Because of these factors, researchers are investigating micropropagation techniques to optimize phytochemicals in vitro. This review's objective is to offer details on the distribution, phytochemistry, micropropagation, in vitro galanthamine synthesis, and pharmacology which will help to design biotechnological techniques for the preservation, widespread multiplication, and required secondary metabolite production from Crinum spp. KEY POINTS: • Botanical description and phytochemical profile of Crinum spp. • In vitro micropropagation method of Crinum sp. • Bioactive compound galanthamine isolation techniques and its pharmacological properties.

A phylogenetic analysis of the Crinum rautanenianum complex (Crininae, Amaryllidaceae) – with a description of C. luangwense sp. nov.

Within genus Crinum L. there has been a lot of confusion, as to species delimitation, particularly in the Crinum rautanenianum complex comprising Crinum carolo-schmidtii, C. euchrophyllum, C. paludosum, C. rautanenianum, and also a specimen referred to as sp. A in Flora of Tropical East Africa. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses were conducted on two datasets: nuclear DNA region (ITS) and five plastid regions (trnL-F spacer, trnL intron, rps16 intron, psbA-trnH spacer, and rps12-rpl20 spacer). Additionally, morphological characters based on herbarium specimens, pictures from the field, type specimens, and protologues were studied to establish diagnostic characters within the complex. Results from phylogeny and morphological characters provide evidence for the reinstatement of C. euchrophyllum, recognition of C. rautanenianum, C. carolo-schmidtii, C. paludosum, with a revisited description of C. rautanenianum, and the description of a new taxon: C. luangwense. A taxonomic revision of the C. rautanenianum complex is presented, including diagnostic characters, an identification key and distribution maps.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN CRINUM LATIFOLIUM AND CRINUM ASIATICUM (AMARYLLIDACEAE) USING MOLECULAR DATA

Crinum latifolium and C. asiaticum are the two species of genus Crinum, Amaryllidaceae family and they have highly medicinal values. Distinction between two species is challenging due to many similar morphological characteristics. In this study, we used molecular makers to distinguish the two species Crinum latifolium and C. asiaticum. The phylogenetic tree was constructed based on the DNA sequence data of the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences of Crinum latifolium and C. asiaticum. As a result, C. latifolium and C. asiaticum were sorted into two different groups in the phylogenetic tree. Therefore, C. latifolium and C. asiaticum were carried out to solve the taxonomic ambiguity.

The Qualitative and Quantitative Phytochemical Investigation of <i>Crinum</i> Species in Ethiopia

Medicinal plants have a long history of use in most communities all over the world. Plants have the ability to synthesize a wide diversity of chemical compounds that uses to perform important biological functions. Many of Genus Crinum has been broadly used in traditional and ethno-medicines in the world wide. The aims of this study were to investigate the qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals constituents of the four species of the genus Crinum that exists in Ethiopia. All experiments were follow standard procedures. For the purpose of conducting phytochemical analyses on the four species each, three to six bulbs were collected from Field Gene Banks, Botanical Gardens and local fields. The bulb samples were cleaned, dried and crushed into powder. In this study the cold extraction methods were used the extraction solvents such as: n-hexane, ethanol, methanol and water. As a result of the phytochemical analyses, it revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and phenols in Crinum abyssinicum and Crinum bambusetum species. Likewise, it confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins in Crinum macowanii. Moreover, it confirmed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins Crinum ornatum. The chemical constituents revealed the presence of relatively high concentration of alkaloids (9.66%), saponins (19.72%), phenols (10.33%), and tannins (0.61%) in the bulbs of Crinum bambusetum. Similarly, the highest concentration of flavonoids (27.72%) was recorded from the bulbs of Crinum ornatum. As more phytochemicals constituents are being identified and tested, traditional uses of the Crinum are being verified. Accordingly, the evidence on the chemical constituents of the species explains the uses of the plants. Therefore, it is worthwhile to recommend the use of the phytochemical constituents of the species studied for Pharmaceutical use in the treatment of different diseases.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Crinum L. (Liliaceae) of Bangladesh

The genus Crinum L. represented by eight species in Bangladesh is revised. The species occurring in Bangladesh are Crinum amabile Donn, C. amoenum Roxb., C. asiaticum L., C. defixum Ker-Gawl., C. jagus (Thomps.) Dandy, C. latifolium L., C. pratense Herb. and C. stenophyllum Baker. Each species is described with updated nomenclature, important synonyms, English and Bangla names, phenology, specimens examined, chromosome number, habitat, distribution, economic value and mode of propagation. A dichotomous bracketed key to the species and illustrations are also provided.

Evaluation of the influence of green extraction solvents on the cytotoxic activities of Crinum (Amaryllidaeae) alkaloid extracts using in-vitro-in-silico approach

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe traditional use of Amaryllidaceae plants to treat many disease have been known for a very long period of time. The chemical analysis of these plants has yielded a diversity of alkaloids with analgesic, anticholinergic, antitumor and antiviral activities. Crinum bulbispermum (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. & Schweick in particular has been used by Zulu, Sotho and Tswana people to treat tumors as a form of chemotherapy, while in Madagascar, Crinum powellii Baker Handb. was used in the treatment of abscesses and tumors. Many of the alkaloids spawned by genus Crinum will surely take part in the production of anticancer drugs but their further clinical development is restricted by their limited commercial availability. An emerging area of research is the establishment of green extraction techniques of different targeted compounds. Aim of the studyOur comparative study has investigated the possibility of getting improved biological responses by changing extraction solvent to a better and greener one. This study aimed to assess the cytotoxic activity of Crinum powellii and Crinum bulbispermum bulbs, when extracted by different green solvents. Materials and methodsThe green solvents Genapol X-80 (a surfactant-aided extraction), DES-3 (Choline chloride: fructose 5:2) mixture (a natural deep eutectic solvent) and purified distilled water were used for extraction of the bulbs. Extracts were tested against two cell lines HEPG-2 and HCT 116, with doxorubicin as a positive reference. Molecular docking studies were carried out to illustrate binding orientations of the alkaloids in the active site of several molecular targets for treatment of hepatic and colorectal cancer. ResultsDES aided extraction showed highest cytotoxicity against the two cell lines, followed by surfactant aided extracts and finally aqueous extracts. There is an obvious relationship between alkaloidal content and antiproliferative potency of extracts. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed to aid the prediction of the alkaloids responsible for the activity. The alkaloid crinine showed high correlation coefficient value against HCT colon cancer cell line in the orthogonal projection to latent structures (OPLS) model, suggesting that it could operate with a selective mode of action on this cell line. In addition, the alkaloid lycorine had almost no correlation to anti-proliferative activity against HCT colon cancer cells. Molecular docking studies confirmed the same conclusions. ConclusionHerein, it was demonstrated that natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) components and surfactant solutions could be chosen to enhance biological activity of extracts prepared.

Crinum Latifolium Leave Extracts Suppress Immune Activation Cascades in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Proliferation of Prostate Tumor Cells

Plants of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) are widely used in folk medicine in different tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The Indian species Crinum latifolium (L.) was traditionally used to treat rheumatism, fistula, tumors, earaches, rubefacient, tubercle and whitlow. In Vietnamese and Chinese traditional medicine Crinum latifolium preparations are used until nowadays because of their antiviral and antitumor properties. In this study, we demonstrate potent in vitro antioxidant activity of an aqueous Crinum latifolium extract by an oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value of 1610 ± 150 μmol Trolox equivalents/g. Furthermore, significant anti-inflammatory effects of this extract were shown by its potential to suppress indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) mediated tryptophan degradation in unstimulated- and mitogen-stimulated PBMC at IC50 doses of 241 ± 57 μg/ml and 92 ± 20 μg/ml, respectively. Concentrations of the immune activation marker neopterin were slightly diminished in unstimulated PBMC, whereas a dose-dependent inhibition of neopterin formation was observed in mitogen-stimulated PBMC (IC50 = 453 ± 86 μg/ml). Additionally, we measured also dose-dependent inhibitory effects of this aqueous Crinum latifolium extract on cell proliferation of highly metastatic human prostate carcinoma PC3 cells (IC50 = 4.5 ± 0.8 mg/ml), androgen-sensitive prostate adenocarcinoma LNCaP cells (IC50 =2.3 ± 0.1 mg/ml), and benign prostate hyperplasia BPH-1 cells (IC50 = 2.1 ± 0.04 mg/ml). We conclude that both effects, inhibition of tumor cell growth and recovery of immune functions, are important for the antitumor properties of Crinum latifolium.

Geophytes diverging in rivers—a study on the genus Crinum, with two new rheophytic taxa from Cameroon

ABSTRACTMost species of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae) are bulbous geophytes and grow in areas with strong seasonality. A few have abandoned their geophytic habit and grow inundated in rivers and possess leaves without stomata and seeds without buoyancy. Traditionally the genus has been divided into sections, based on flowers being star‐shaped or bell‐shaped. Analysis of DNA sequences of ITS and trnL‐trnF regions has resolved a new clade of star‐shaped Crinum species: the Crinum natans clade of West Africa. From the rain forest of Cameroon two new river taxa are described: Crinum amphibium Bjorå & Nordal sp. nov. and Crinum natans Baker subsp. inundatum Kwembeya & Nordal subsp. nov. A key to the Crinum species of Cameroon is provided. The new name Crinum exile Bjorå & Nordal nom. nov. is proposed for Crinum humile A. Chev. (1950) non Herb. (1826).

Crinum binghamii sp. nov.: With a Key to Crinum Species with Radially Symmetrical Flowers in Mainland Africa

Introduction The genus Crinum in mainland Africa includes approximately 50 species, of which about 85% have flowers that are zygomorphic, i.e. with curved tube, declinate stamens and style, and tepals connivent to a bell. The remaining 15% possess flowers that are radially symmetrical with a straight tube at anthesis, arcuate stamens, a straight style, and reflexed tepals (Hepper 1968; Nordal 1982, 1986, 1987). The former used to be referred to subgenus Codonocrinum, the latter to subgenus Stenaster, which for nomenclatural reasons was renamed subgenus Crinum. Studies of chloroplast DNA have indicated that these taxa are not monophyletic, and subgeneric delimitation is not recommended (Fangan & Nordal 1993; Meerow et al. 2003). Among the radially symmetrical-flowered species of Crinum, two, C. purpurascens Herbert and C. natans Baker (Hepper 1968; Nordal 1987), occur in the Guineo-Congolean rain forests (White 1983). Two species are mainly found in the Zambesian part of the Sudano-Zambesian region, C. subcernuum Baker (Zambesian and Zanzibar-Inhambane floristic region, north to southern Tanzania) and C. buphanoides Baker (only in the Zambesian region, north to southern Malawi (Verdoorn 1973; Lehmiller 1997)). A narrow endemic species from the Sudanian part of the Sudano-Zambesian region, C. bambusetum Nordal & Sebsebe was recently described (Nordal & Sebsebe 2002). In addition to these five, a very distinct species, C. trifidum Nordal, was described from Angola (Nordal 1979). This species has subsessile anthers and a distinctly trifid stigma, traits otherwise not known in mainland African representatives of the genus. A specimen of Crinum was collected by R. B. Drummond and A. J. Cookson (no. 6429) in 1959 from Zambia, Western Province, Kalabo District, in a swamp bordering a river. It was identified as C. rautanenianum Schinz. In 1995 M. G. Bingham & B. Luwiika collected a similar specimen (no. 10703) from Western Prov., Mongu District, on the Bulozi floodplain. This was identified at Kew as C. macowanii Baker. Photographs taken by Bingham revealed that the flowers were clearly radially symmetrical and that both identifications accordingly were wrong. During a botanical expedition in 2003 to western Zambia together with Bingham and others we collected and photographed this taxon from Senanga District, Sana Plain, and it became clear that it represents a new species of radially symmetrical-flowered Crinums. The aim of this paper is to describe the new species formally and to present a key to the radially symmetrical-flowered Crinums of Africa.

Phylogeny and biogeography of Crinum L. (Amaryllidaceae) inferred from nuclear and limited plastid non-coding DNA sequences

The genus Crinum L. is the only pantropical genus of the Amaryllidaceae. Phylogenetic and biogeographical analyses of nrDNA ITS and plastid trnL-F sequences for all continental groups of the genus Crinum and related African genera are presented, with the genus Amaryllis used as outgroup. ITS indicates that C. baumii is more closely related to Ammocharis and Cybistetes than to Crinum sensu stricto. Three clades are resolved in Crinum s.s. One unites a monophyletic American group with tropical and North African species. The second includes all southern African species and the Australian endemic C. flaccidum. The third includes monophyletic Madagascar, Australasian and Sino-Himalayan clades, with southern African species. The trnL-F phylogeny resolves an American and an Asian/Madagscar clade, and confirms the relationship of C. flaccidum with species endemic to southern Africa. The salverform, actinomorphic perianths of subg. Crinum appear to have evolved several times in the genus from ancestors with zygomorphic perianths (subg. Codonocrinum), thus neither subgenus is monophyletic. Biogeographical analyses place the origin of Crinum in southern Africa, as the region is optimized at all ancestral nodes in the tree topology, and in basal interior nodes of all but one of the major clades. The genus underwent three major waves of radiation corresponding to the three main clades resolved in our trees. Two entries into Australia for the genus are indicated, as are separate Sino-Himalayan and Australasian dispersal events.

Aqueous extracts of Crinum latifolium (L.) and Camellia sinensis show immunomodulatory properties in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

In Vietnamese and Chinese traditional medicine, hot aqueous extract of Crinum latifolium is used because of its antitumor activity. The genus Crinum is thought to possess antiviral and immunostimulative properties. Green and black tea derived from Camellia sinensis have similar qualities. A growing body of evidence suggests that moderate consumption of green and black tea may protect, e.g., against several forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial infections. In this study, the immunomodulatory property of C. latifolium (L.) extracts should further be investigated and compared to those of black and green tea. Human peripheral mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of tea extracts with or without mitogens or interferon-γ. The effect of plant extracts on cultured cells was assayed by neopterin production, a sensitive marker reflecting the activation of cell-mediated immunity. Our experiments showed that extracts of C. latifolium (L.) slightly enhance neopterin production in unstimulated peripheral mononuclear cells, whereas an effective reduction of neopterin formation in cells stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), or interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was observed. Green and black tea extracts displayed similar immunomodulatory properties in our in vitro system, whereas C. latifolium (L.) extracts seemed to be more effective in reducing neopterin formation in stimulated cells.

A Comparative Analysis of Morphology, Chloroplast-DNA and Distribution Within the Genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceae)

Seven species of the genus Crinum, C. asiaticum L., C. glaucum A. Chev., C. jagus (Thomps.) Dandy, C. lat- ifolium L., C. macowanii Bak., C. politifolium Wahlstr0m, and C. zeylanicum (L.) L., are included in the study. The variation pattern in morphology is compared to the varia- tion pattern found in chloroplast DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The different phylogenies established by cladistic analyses based on the two different data sets are not in accordance. The variation pattern in the chloroplast DNA fits the geographic distribution pattern of the species analysed better than their morphological varia- tion pattern. East African taxa studied are linked more

Q-Banding in Three Species ofCrinum(Amaryllidaceae)

SUMMARYQ-banding has been employed to discover the disposition of heteroch-romatin/repetitive DNA in three species of the genus Crinum. The distribution has been observed to be 2.12% in Crinum asiaticum, 10.97% in Crinum latifolium and 18.84% in Crinum moorei. The quantity of heterochromatin has been found to be less in cytologically stable species than in hybrid species.

Cytotaxonomic survey of some tropical ornamental species V. Karyotype of two species of the genus Crinum and a related genus Hymenocallis.

Cytotaxonomic survey of some tropical ornamental species V. Karyotype of two species of the genus Crinum and a related genus Hymenocallis.

Crinum alkaloids: their chemistry and biology

The current staus of research of free and glycosylated alkaloids occuring in members of the genus Crinum is reviewed. The distribution, isolation, spectral properties, structural properties, inter conventions and biological acitivities of these alkaloids are presented.

A study of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceæ) in Cameroun

A study of the genus Crinum (Amaryllidaceæ) in Cameroun

SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE AMARYLLIDANCEÆ

THE American Amaryllis Society is again to be congratulated upon the publication of its ninth year-book “Herbertia” for 1942 (From the Society, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A. 3.25 dollars post paid). The Society, through its able editor Dr. Hamilton P. Traub, has brought together a large number of short contributions which deal with all aspects of the Amaryllidacese. Detailed descriptions of the Ixolirion tribe, with keys and descriptions of species, are given by Dr. Traub, and include chromosome data for I. tartaricum. The genus Crinum is also the subject of a comprehensive review by Dr. J. C. Th. Uphof. Suitable illustrations play a considerable part in the correct recognition of species, and Major Albert Pam of Broxbourne, England, has prepared an extensive check-list of coloured plates of amaryllids which have been published in the literature. A new species of Hemerocallis, H. altissima, is described by Dr. A. B. Stout, who also outlines the various stages in the breeding of a red-flowered day-lily. Starting with Hemerocallis fiava, H. aurantiaca, H. Thunbergii and the Europa day-lily, hybridization and selective breeding produced the Theron class, with petals almost wholly red. Further breeding has made possible the introduction of bi-coloured flowers, and blooms with various geometrical arrangements of red upon a yellow ground.