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Bioactivities of Guettarda speciosa L. extracts

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Saravanan Vivekanandarajah at KnowledgeLink Group, Inc.
Saravanan Vivekanandarajah
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Pholtan R. S. Rajamanoharan at Provincial Department of Indigenous Medicine, Eastern Province
Pholtan R. S. Rajamanoharan
  • Provincial Department of Indigenous Medicine, Eastern Province
Pholtan Rajeev
Pholtan Rajeev
Pholtan Rajeev
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Pholtan Rajeev. Sebastian at Planning Unit, PDIM
Pholtan Rajeev. Sebastian
  • Planning Unit, PDIM
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Abstract

Guettarda speciosa L. is a tree of the Rubiaceae family. G. specious has been used to treat diarrhea, abscesses, wounds, epilepsy, and malaria in ethnomedicinal systems. So far, there is no systematic review for the bioactivities of G. speciosa. Therefore, the purpose of this minireview is to analyze, summarize and document the reported bioactivities of G. speciosa. Major electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Semantic Scholar) were used to identify related studies from 1900 to January 2021. So far, in vivo and in vitro scientific data are available for the bioactivities of this plant species. Studies have reported that G. speciosa contains antidiarrheal, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antimalarial, antineurodegenerative, and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, no bioactive compound of G. speciosa has been isolated. This work will be useful for researchers interested in bioactivity and phytochemical researches.
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Acta Scientifica Malaysia (ASM) 5(1) (2020) 20-22
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DOI:
10.26480/asm.01.2021.20.22
Cite the Article: Saravanan Vivekanandarajah Sathasivampillai, Moon Jain, Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharan (2021).
Bioactivities of
Guettarda Speciosa
L. Extracts.
Acta Scientifica Malaysia, 5(1): 20-22.
ISSN: 2521-5051 (Print)
ISSN: 2521-506X (Online)
CODEN: ASMCCQ
REVIEW ARTICLE
Acta Scientifica Malaysia (ASM)
DOI: http://doi.org/10.26480/asm.01.2021.20.22
BIOACTIVITIES OF GUETTARDA SPECIOSA L. EXTRACTS
Saravanan Vivekanandarajah Sathasivampillaia,b*, Moon Jainc, Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharand,e
a KnowledgeLink Group, Inc., Waltham, MA 02451, USA.
b Boigai Institute, Batticaloa, Sri Lanka.
c Pharmacology division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
d Eastern Provincial Herbal Garden Management Center, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
e Department of Siddha Toxicology, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, India.
*Corresponding author email: vivekanandarajahs@yahoo.co.uk
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
ARTICLE DETAILS
ABSTRACT
Article History:
Received 28 December 2020
Accepted 02 February 2021
Available online 29 March 2021
Guettarda speciosa L. is a tree of the Rubiaceae family. G. specious has been used to treat diarrhea, abscesses,
wounds, epilepsy, and malaria in ethnomedicinal systems. So far, there is no systematic review for the
bioactivities of G. speciosa. Therefore, the purpose of this minireview is to analyze, summarize and document
the reported bioactivities of G. speciosa. Major electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect,
PubMed, and Semantic Scholar) were used to identify related studies from 1900 to January 2021. So far, in
vivo and in vitro scientific data are available for the bioactivities of this plant species. Studies have reported
that G. speciosa contains antidiarrheal, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antimalarial,
antineurodegenerative, and antioxidant activities. Furthermore, no bioactive compound of G. speciosa has
been isolated. This work will be useful for researchers interested in bioactivity and phytochemical
researches.
KEYWORDS
Guettarda speciosa, Rubiaceae, Jasminum hirsutum, bioactivities, Sri Lanka.
1. INTRODUCTION
Guettarda speciosaJasminum hirsutumMogorium
hirsutum   Nyctanthes hirsuta  Cadamba jasminiflora 
Gardenia speciosa       Guettarda speciosa 
glabrata  Guettarda tahitensis  Matthiola speciosa 
   Rubiaceae G. speciosa 
             
      


        
        
        

   

G. speciosa ப
              
        
            
      
  
          
         
   

 
G. speciosa   
        
         
  
  
         


G. speciosa.   
      G. speciosa   
         
       
         
         
Guettarda speciosa   Jasminum hirsutum Mogorium
hirsutum Nyctanthes hirsute Cadamba jasminiflora Gardenia speciosa
Acta Scientifica Malaysia (ASM) 5(1) (2021) 20-22
Cite the Article: Saravanan Vivekanandarajah Sathasivampillai, Moon Jain, Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharan (2021).
Bioactivities of
Guettarda Speciosa
L. Extracts.
Acta Scientifica Malaysia, 5(1): 20-22.
Guettarda speciosa  glabrata Guettarda tahitensis  Matthiola
speciosa
2. REPORTED BIOACTIVITIES OF G. SPECIOSA
G. speciosain
vivoin vitro
   in vivo     
     G. speciosa 
    

       
          
           
       
           


 
        
     
        
        

 G. speciosa.     
       

          
          












In vivo








In vivo










In vivo










In vivo










In vivo






In vivo







In vitro






In vitro










In vitro






Plasmodium falciparum


In vitro







In vitro

























3. CONCLUSION
G. speciosa   
     
        
      
  G. speciosa    

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
           

REFERENCES
       
  

         

         
    
       


Acta Scientifica Malaysia (ASM) 5(1) (2021) 20-22
Cite the Article: Saravanan Vivekanandarajah Sathasivampillai, Moon Jain, Pholtan Rajeev Sebastian Rajamanoharan (2021).
Bioactivities of
Guettarda Speciosa
L. Extracts.
Acta Scientifica Malaysia, 5(1): 20-22.

        


  


          
 

        




         


    
   

   
        
            

          


           

          
   

         
      
    

    


World Health Organization, 1998. Medicinal plants in the South Pacific:
information on 102 commonly used medicinal plants in the South
Pacific. Regional Office for the Western Pacific, Manila.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
The methanol extract of Guettarda speciosa Linn. Ameliorates acute lung injury in mice
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Anti-Amyloidogenic and Cyclooxygenase Inhibitory Activity of Guettarda speciosa
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Guettarda speciosa is known in traditional folk medicine for treating cough, cold, sore throat, fever, wounds, epilepsy, and headaches. To discover the scientific pharmacological potential of G. speciosa, we explore its anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, and inhibition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation effects. Cyclooxygenase assay of the G. speciosa CHCl3 (GSC) extract and G. speciosa MeOH (GSM) extract are more selective to COX-1 inhibition with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 3.56 μg/mL for the GSC extract and 4.98 μg/mL for the GSM extract. Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y inhibition and thioflavin T assay amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregate inhibition of the GSM and GSC extracts showed their potential therapeutic effects against Alzheimer’s disease. The putative compounds from the LC-MS analysis could be responsible for the observed activities. The results suggest that G. speciosa possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-neurodegenerative properties and a promising lead as a source of pharmacologically active compounds.
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Pharmacological studies of anti-diarrhoeal activity of Guettarda speciosa (L.) in experimental animals
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Full-text available
  • Jan 2009
Aims: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate scientifically the anti-diarrhoeal effects of ethanolic (90%)extract of inner bark of Guettarda speciosa. Linn (EEGS) was studied against castor oil-induced-diarrhoea model in rats.Methods: Antidiarrhoeal activity of 90% ethanol extract of Guettarda speciosa was investigated in this study using castor oil-induced-diarrhoea, enteropooling and Small intestinal transit models in rats. The weight and volume of intestinal content induced by castor oil were studied by enteropooling method.Results: Standard drug diphenoxylate (5 ml/kg, p.o) was significant reductions in fecal output and frequency of droppings whereas EEGS at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg p.o significantly (P<0.001) reduced the castor-oil induced frequency and consistency of diarrhoea and enteropooling. The gastrointestinal transit rate was expressed asthe percentage of the longest distance travelled by the charcoal divided by the total length of the small intestine.EEGS at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly inhibited (P<0.001) the castor oil induced charcoal meal transit.Conclusion: The EEGS showed marked reduction in the number of diarrhoea stools and the reduction in the weight and volume of the intestinal contents, as well as a modest reduction in intestinal transit. The results obtained establish the efficacy and substantiate the folklore claim as an anti- diarrheal agent. Further studies are needed to completely understand the mechanism of anti-diarrhoeal action of Guettarda speciosa.
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Methanol extract of Guettarda speciosa Linn. inhibits the production of inflammatory mediators through the inactivation of Syk and JNK in macrophages
Article
  • Jan 2018
Guettarda speciosa Linn. (G. speciosa, Rubiaceae) has been used as a traditional medicinal plant in Asia for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, including cough, fever and maternal postpartum infection. However, the mechanisms underlying the anti‑inflammatory action of G. speciosa extracts have remained elusive. In the present study, the anti‑inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of G. speciosa (MGS) were investigated in murine macrophages by measuring the production of inflammatory mediators and the underlying mechanisms of action by performing immunoblotting analysis of proteins that are potentially involved. MGS reduced nitric oxide (NO) production through regulation of the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide‑activated RAW 264.7 cells; however, cyclooxygenase‑2, the enzyme responsible for prostaglandin E2 production, was not affected at the mRNA or protein level. MGS reduced interleukin‑6 (IL‑6) production, but had no effect on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α production. In addition, MGS suppressed the transcription of IL‑6, but not that of IL‑1β and TNF‑α. The effect of MGS on proinflammatory mediators resulted from the inhibition of the activation of spleen tyrosine kinase and c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase. In conclusion, the present study suggested that MGS may be a potential candidate for development as a therapeutic for alleviating inflammation.
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Study on the Antiseizure Activities of Inner Bark of Guettarda Speciosa (L.)
Article
  • May 2009
This article reports the results of an investigation of antiepileptic activity of Guettarda speciosa (L.) in rats. The ethanolic (95%) extract of inner bark of G. speciosa. Linn (EEGS) was used for acute toxicity test and then it was screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES)- and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)- induced seizures models in albino wistar rats. No toxicity was observed up to the recommended dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight orally as per OECD guidelines No. 423. Animals were pretreated with EEGS at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. There was significant delay in clonic seizure induced by PTZ and a dose-dependent decrease in duration of hind leg extensor phase in MES model after treatment with the extract. In MES model, EEGS showed significant reduction in duration of hind leg extension with 200 mg/kg dose and effect was dramatically reduced with 400mg/kg. Similar dose-dependent delays on the onset of clonic convulsions were obtained with PTZ. The complete protective effect against mortality was reported in both models. This study predicted possible mechanism of the formulation mediated through chloride channel of the GABA or benzodiazepine receptor complex. The ethanol extract of the inner bark of G. speciosa (L.) deserve further investigation for detailed elucidation of active constituents and the mechanisms of action in the epilepsy treatment.
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Effect of Guettarda speciosa extracts on biogenic amines concentrations in rat brain after induction of seizure
Article
  • Oct 2009
The inner bark of Guettarda speciosa is used traditional Indian medicine to treat epilepsy. Previous studies have demonstrated that extracts of these plants was subjected to acute toxicity and then screened for antiepileptic activity on Maximal Electroshock (MES) and Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced seizures models in albino wistar rats. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the effect of ethanolic (95%) extract of Guettarda speciosa (EEGS) on biogenic amines concentrations in rat brain after induction of seizures by MES and PTZ. Our aim of study was relationship between seizure activities and altered the monoamines such as noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and Gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) in forebrain of rats in MES and PTZ seizure models. In MES model, EEGS (200 & 400 mg/kg) showed significantly restored the decreased levels of brain monoamines such as NA, DA, 5-HT and GABA. Similarly in PTZ model, EEGS showed significantly increased the monoamines in forebrain of rats. Thus, this study suggests that ethanol extract of Guettarda speciosa increased the monoamines on rat brain, which may be decreased the susceptibility to MES and PTZ induced seizure in rats.
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Ethnomedicine in Tonga
Article
  • Dec 1971
Local medical practices in this Pacific archipelago are reviewed, the folk taxonomy and medicinal uses of 71 plants are discussed, and the medicinal applications of each species in some other regions of the Pacific are enumerated. Included are the plant parts used, Tongan names, the illnesses, and the preparations of the remedies.
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Antimalarial activity of crude extracts from nine African medicinal plants
Article
  • Feb 2008
  • J ETHNOPHARMACOL
An ethnobotanical study was conducted in Comores (Ngazidja) about plant species used traditionally for the treatment of various diseases, including malaria. Antimalarial activity of 76 vegetal extracts obtained from 17 species traditionally used to treat malaria symptoms, was evaluated in vitro using Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant strain (W2). Antiproliferative activity was evaluated on human monocytic THP1 cells and the selectivity index of the plant extracts was calculated. The results showed that 10 plant extracts had a moderate activity (5<IC(50)< or =10 microg/ml), and 6 a good in vitro activity with IC(50) value < or =5 microg/ml. The highest antiplasmodial activity was found for the MeOH/H(2)O leaves extract of Flueggea virosa (Roxb. Ex Willd.) Voigt subsp. virosa (Euphorbiaceae) (IC(50)=2 microg/ml), for roots decoction of Flueggea virosa (IC(50)=3 microg/ml) and for chloromethylenic roots extract of Vernonia colorata (Willd.) Drake subsp. grandis (DC.) C. Jeffrey (Asteraceae) (IC(50)=3 microg/ml). Three other extracts showed moderate antiplasmodial activity (IC(50)<5 microg/ml): Vernonia colorata (aerial part), Piper capense L.f. (Piperaceae), and Leptadenia madagascariensis Decne (Asclepiadaceae) chloromethylenic extracts (IC(50)=6 microg/ml; 7 microg/ml and 9 microg/ml, respectively). All the plants tested displayed a low cytotoxicity on THP1 cells.
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Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability
  • Jan 1993
  • W C Clarke
  • R R Thaman
Clarke, W.C., Thaman, R.R., 1993. Agroforestry in the Pacific Islands: Systems for Sustainability. United Nations University Press, Tokyo.