Preprint / Version 1

Extraction and Fractionation of Prokinetic Phytochemicals from Chrozophora tinctoria and Their Bioactivities

Authors

  • Arshad Iqbal Department of Botany, Islamia College University, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan; [email protected]
  • Ayaz Sher Department of Botany, Islamia College University, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan; [email protected]
  • Naveed Muhammad Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan 23200, Pakistan; [email protected]
  • Syed Badshah Department of Chemistry, Islamia College University, Peshawar 25120, Pakistan
  • Abdul-Hamid Emwas Core Laboratories, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia; [email protected]
  • Mariusz Jaremko Smart-Health Initiative (SHI) and Red Sea Research Center (RSRC), Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

Keywords:

Chrozophora tinctoria, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, laxative, acute toxicity, spasmolytic

Abstract

Chrozophora tinctoria is an annual plant of the family Euphorbiaceae, traditionally used as a laxative, a cathartic and an emetic. A methanolic extract of Chrozophora tinctoria (MEC) whole plant and an n-butanol fraction of Chrozophora tinctoria (NBFC) were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to detect the phytochemicals. MEC and NBFC were tested for in vitro anti acetylcholinesterase (AChE) potential. The effect of both samples on intestinal propulsive movement and spasmolytic activity in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was also studied. About twelve compounds in MEC and three compounds in NBFC were tentatively identified through GC-MS. Some of them are compounds with known therapeutic activity, such as toluene; imipramine; undecane; 14-methyl-pentadecanoic acid methyl ester; and hexadecanoic acid. Both NBFC and MEC samples were checked for acute toxicity and were found to be highly toxic in a dose-dependent manner, causing diarrhea and emesis at 1 g/kg concentration in pigeons, with the highest lethargy and mortality above 3 g/kg. Both the samples of Chrozophora tinctoria revealed significant (p ≤ 0.01) laxative activity against metronidazole (7 mg/kg) and loperamide hydrochloride (4 mg/kg)-induced constipation. NBFC (81.18 ± 2.5%) and MEC (68.28 ± 2.4%) significantly increased charcoal meal intestinal transit compared to distal water (41.15 ± 4.3%). NBFC exhibited a significant relaxant effect (EC50 = 3.40 ± 0.20 mg/mL) in spontaneous rabbit jejunum as compared to MEC (EC50 = 4.34 ± 0.68 mg/kg). Similarly, the impact of NBFC on KCl-induced contraction was more significant than that of MEC (EC50 values of 7.22 ± 0.06 mg/mL and 7.47 ± 0.57 mg/mL, respectively). The present study scientifically validates the folk use of Chrozophora tinctoria in the management of gastrointestinal diseases such as constipation. Further work is needed to isolate the phytochemicals that act as diarrheal agents in Chrozophora tinctoria. Keywords: Chrozophora tinctoria, acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, laxative, acute toxicity, spasmolytic

Downloads