ArticlePDF Available

Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.: A magnificent plant with biological and pharmacological properties

Wiley
Food Frontiers
Authors:

Abstract and Figures

Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. is a plant of the Fabaceae family especially rich in flavonoids but also in alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, glycosides, and volatiles. This herb has been traditionally used in numerous countries all over the world for its pharmacological and biological properties (i.e., it has been used for the treatment of diarrheas, fever, epilepsy, asthma, leishmaniasis, gastroduodenal ulcer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, etc.). Given the wide uses of D. adscendens, this review summarizes all recent data on D. adscendens evaluating its phytochemistry as well as its ethno‐traditional and pharmacological properties. In addition, an association between the phytocompounds of this plant and its potential mechanism of action in cell and animal models has been investigated, focusing with a special emphasis on human experiments. Main biological and pharmacological properties of Desmodium adscendens
This content is subject to copyright. Terms and conditions apply.
Received: 4 June 2022 Revised: 6 July 2022 Accepted: 6 July 2022
DOI: 10.1002/fft2.170
REVIEW ARTICLE
Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.: A magnificent plant with
biological and pharmacological properties
Maria Giulia Manzione1Jesús Herrera-Bravo2,3Javad Sharifi-Rad4
Dorota Kregiel5Mustafa Sevindik6Emre Sevindik7Zeliha Salamoglu8
Wissam Zam9Sara Vitalini10,11 Christophe Hano12 Wirginia Kukula-Koch13
Wojciech Koch14 Raffaele Pezzani1,15
1Phytotherapy Lab, Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padova, Padova, Italy
2Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomas, Santiago, Chile
3Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and TechnologicalBioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
4Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
5Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
6Department of Food Processing, Bahçe VocationalSchool, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye, Turkey
7Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Facultyof Agriculture, Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
8Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nigde Omer Halisdemir University, Nigde, Turkey
9Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry,Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Andalus University for Medical Sciences, Tartous, Syria
10Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
11Phytochem Lab, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
12Laboratoire de Biologie Des Ligneux Et Des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC), INRA USC1328 Université d’Orléans, Orléans Cedex 2, France
13Department of Pharmacognosy with Medicinal Plants Garden, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
14Department of Food and Nutrition, Medical University of Lublin, 4a Chodźki Str., Lublin 20-093, Poland
15AIROB, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Oncologica di Base, Padova, Italy
Correspondence
Javad Sharifi-Rad, Facultad de Medicina,
Universidad del Azuay,Cuenca, Ecuador.
Email: javad.sharifirad@gmail.com
Sara Vitalini, Department of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences, Università degli Studi
di Milano, Via G. Celoria 2, 20133, Milan, Italy.
Email: sara.vitalini@unimi.it
Christophe Hano, Laboratoire de Biologie Des
Ligneux Et Des Grandes Cultures (LBLGC),
INRA USC1328 Université d’Orléans, 45067
Orléans Cedex2, France.
Email: hano.christophe@gmail.com
Abstract
Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. is a plant of the Fabaceae family especially rich in
flavonoids but also in alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, gly-
cosides, and volatiles. This herb has been traditionally used in numerous countries all
over the world for its pharmacological and biological properties (i.e., it has been used
for the treatment of diarrheas, fever, epilepsy, asthma, leishmaniasis, gastroduode-
nal ulcer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, etc.). Given the wide uses of D. adscendens,this
review summarizes all recent data on D. adscendens evaluating its phytochemistry as
well as its ethno-traditional and pharmacological properties. In addition, an association
between the phytocompounds of this plant and its potential mechanism of action in cell
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any
medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
© 2022 The Authors. Food Frontiers published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd and Nanchang University, Northwest University, Jiangsu University, Zhejiang
University, FujianAgriculture and Forestry University.
Food Frontiers. 2022;3:677–688. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fft2 677
678 MANZIONE ET AL.
Raffaele Pezzani, Phytotherapy Lab,
Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine
(DIMED), University of Padova, via Ospedale
105, Padova, 35128, Italy.
Email: raffaele.pezzani@unipd.it
Sara Vitalini and Raffaele Pezzani are co-last
authors.
and animal models has been investigated, focusing with a special emphasis on human
experiments.
KEYWORDS
clinical trial, Desmodium adscendens, pharmacological properties, phytochemistry, preclinical
studies
1INTRODUCTION
According to World Health Organization https://www.who.int/health-
topics/traditional-complementary-and-integrative-medicine,the
term “traditional medicine” is defined as the sum of knowledge, skills,
and practices based on different culture-specific theories, beliefs,
and experiences to protect and improve health. The use of traditional
medicine since ancient times is shared in different countries, and its
knowledge has been transmitted for generations (Leonti, 2011). Plants
(fruits, vegetables, herbs) can contain many active ingredients, such as
vitamins, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, nitrogen compounds (alka-
loids, amines, and betalains), and other metabolites with interesting
antioxidant potential (Muanda et al., 2011; Serafini & Peluso, 2016;
Traka & Mithen, 2011). Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC., abbreviated
“DA”, is a perennial medicinal plant from the Fabaceae family found in
tropical and subtropical areas of the world which contains numerous
bioactive compounds (Magielse et al., 2013). This herbaceous plant
(Figure 1) is used since ancient times for different diseases, including
muscle cramps, tendinitis, spinal pain, epilepsy, jaundice, hepatitis,
bronchitis, asthma, allergic reactions, and eczema. It has also anti-
spasmodic and antihypertensive properties (Seriki et al., 2019). Of
note that diverse ethnotraditional medicines in the world used DA
for the treatment of different diseases. For example, in the American
continent, it is valued for the treatment of gonorrhea, diarrheas, body
aches, excessive urination, ovarian inflammations, fever, and epilepsy,
while in Africa it cures smooth muscle contraction and asthma (Taylor,
2005; Gyamfi et al., 1999). In India, D. adscendens has been reported
to possess antileishmanial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiulcer,
cardio-protective, antidiabetic, anti-amnesia, antiviral, and hepato-
protective activities (Ma et al., 2011; Rastogi et al., 2011). In Europe,
the plant is commonly used as a food health supplement for its hep-
atoprotective action even if EFSA (European Food Safety Authority,
the agency of the European Union that provides scientific information
on potential risks associated with the food chain and botanicals) still
needs to confirm this supposed effect (Botanicals On-hold EFSA
https://www.efsa.europa.eu sites default files 371, M-2008-1061,
EFSA-Q-2008-3268, 2535 Desmodium).
The nonflowering aerial parts including leaves and stems are the
medicinal parts that have been extensively studied over the past few
decades (Ma, Zheng, Hu, Rahman & Qin, 2011; Rastogi, Pandey &
Rawat, 2011). These organs contain flavonoids, isoflavonoids, alka-
loids, terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, glycosides, and
volatile molecules (Ma et al., 2011). In vitro and in vivo works based
on crude extracts, fractions, or isolated components of DA have been
shown to provide scientific evidence for their conventional uses. The
aim of this review is to provide comprehensive information on botany,
phytochemistry, traditional uses, preclinical and clinical pharmacolog-
ical research, and the toxicology of DA and to explore its therapeutic
potential and future perspectives. This work was prepared by research-
ing articles, papers, and books from different databases (Embase-
Elsevier, Google Scholar, Ovid, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web
of Science) using a combination of different keywords, that is, Desmod-
ium,Desmodium adscendens, pharmacology, ethnopharmacology, phy-
tochemicals, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-asthmatic, immunomodu-
latory, antiulcer, cardioprotective, antidiabetic, anti-amnesia, antiviral,
hepatoprotective. Only sources written in English from any country
were included.
2PHYLOGENY, BIOGEOGRAPHY, AND
CHARACTER EVOLUTION
Fabaceae (Leguminosae), the third largest family within the
Angiosperms, includes 946 genera and over 24,500 accepted species
(The Plant List, http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Leguminosae/).
There are commonly three subfamilies—Caesalpinioideae,
Mimosoideae, and Papilionoideae—that have been recently split into
six subfamilies, namely Caesalpinioideae, Cercidoideae, Detarioideae,
Dialioideae, Duparquetioideae, and Papilionoideae. The Legume
Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG) provided key and taxonomic
descriptions to exemplify the diversity of flowers and fruits in these
subfamilies (Azani et al., 2017). The Phaseoloid clade is one lineage
within Papilionoideae, which comprises the Phaseoleae sensu lato (s.l.)
clade, Desmodieae, and Psoraleeae. The clade shows a multifaceted
phylogenetic association among and within tribes. Indeed Desmodieae
and Psoraleeae can be considered monophyletic groups that are
nested within the paraphyletic Phaseoleae s.l. group (Jin et al., 2019).
The tribe Desmodieae (Benth.) Hutchinson comprises 32 genera and
ca. 530 species used for medicine and forage (Jabbour et al., 2018).
They largely grow in warm-temperate regions, even if a small group
has adapted to cool-temperate and boreal regions of North Amer-
ica. This tribe is commonly represented by herbs or shrubs, while not
often by trees. Legumes or loments (a single carpel that disarticu-
lates into single-seeded segments when ripe) are the classical forms of
fruits. Bryinae, Desmodiinae, and Lespedezinae are the three subtribes
of Desmodieae. Of note that Desmodiinae possesses great generic
diversity in tropical South and South-East Asia, while species of the
subtribe Lespedezinae are found in temperate East Asia and North
America. The tribe was further circumscribed into three groups based
on an analysis of the chloroplast gene rbcL: the Lespedeza group (three
MANZIONE ET AL.679
FIGURE 1 Flowering stem and developing seedpods of
Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. plant
genera) corresponding to the Lespedezinae subtribe, the Phyllodium
(12 genera), and Desmodium (17 genera) groups, together correspond-
ing to the Desmodiinae subtribe (Jabbour et al., 2018; Jin et al., 2019).
Jabbour et al. obtained chloroplast (rbcL, psbA-trnH) and nuclear
(ITS-1) DNA sequences to evaluate the molecular phylogeny and his-
torical biogeography of Desmodieae (Jabbour et al., 2018). The results
obtained from wide molecular analysis suggested that the hypothetical
common ancestor of Desmodieae was dated to the Middle Oligocene
and was likely an Asian shrub or tree producing indehiscent loments.
While America has been suggested to be colonized once, with the
development of Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb. and Desmodium adscen-
dens (Sw.) DC., Oceania, and Africa were populated several times.
Jin and co-workers investigated the plastome evolution and analyzed
phylogenetic signaling by sequencing six complete plastomes from rep-
resentative members of Desmodieae (Jin et al., 2019). The phylogenetic
analysis showed that the tribe Desmodieae was probably a mono-
phyletic group nested within the paraphyletic Phaseoleae, as reported
in former works.
Desmodium is a genus with more than 46 species and is consid-
ered a curative plant in Africa (Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana,
Cameroon, Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Sierra
Leone, Benin, and Togo), in South America (Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador,
Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Guyana, Nicaragua), in Southeast Asia
(Japan, Burma, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam),
India, Indian Ocean (Rodrigues, Mauritius), in Pacific (Vanuatu, New
Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Salomon, Palau), Taiwan, and China (Farid
et al., 2018) and North-East America (Parker et al., 2015).
3PHYTOCHEMISTRY OF DESMODIUM SPECIES
Different parts of Desmodium species possess mixed groups of
bioactive compounds. They are rich in flavonoids (flavones, 7, 8-
prenyl-lactone flavonoids, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and flavanonols) and
especially isoflavonoids (isoflavones, isoflavanones, pterocarpans, and
coumaronochromones) (Figure 2a,b). Indole alkaloids, phenylethy-
FIGURE 2 Chemical structures of flavonoids (a) and isoflavonoids
(b). Chemical structure of isovitexin-2-O-xyloside. (c) Chemical
structure of quercitrin dehydrate (d)
lamine alkaloids, pyrrolidine alkaloids, amide alkaloids, and simple
alkylamine were the main alkaloids found in Desmodium. In addition,
numerous terpenoids, steroids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, glycosides,
and volatile oils have been isolated and characterized in the genus (Ma
et al., 2011).
Some studies evaluated methanolic crude extracts of DA reporting
the presence of polyphenols and particularly flavonoids, found mainly
in the leaves rather than in stems (Konan et al., 2012; Mamyrbékova-
Békro et al., 2008). In the past decade, Baiocchi and collaborators
were able to quantify saponins and alkaloids using high-resolution
mass spectrometry (Baiocchi et al., 2013). Of note that plants grown
in Africa were quantified for flavonoids by high-performance liquid
chromatography (HPLC) with a diode array detector, mass spec-
trometry, and multidimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spec-
troscopy (Zielinska-Pisklak et al., 2015). Chemical characterization of
DA plant material identified the isovetixin-2-O-xyloside (flavone C-
glycosides) (Figure 2c) as the main compound in an ethanol extract
(Muanda et al., 2011). Munda and collaborators isolated and identi-
fied five main phenolic compounds from DA leaves, namely caffeic
acid, quercetin, p-coumaric acid, epicatechin, and rutin as well as
other compounds such as phenylethylamines, indole-3-alkyl amines,
tetrahydroiso-quinolones, and triterpenoid saponins (Muanda et al.,
2011).
The volatiles extracted from the leaves included phytone
(14.72%), caryophyllene oxide (11.32%), eudesma (7.41%), geran-
iol (5.42%), linalool (5.33%), palmitic acid (5.06%), α-caryophyllene
(4.76%), scytalone (3.83%), β-ionone (3.47%), 2,2-dimethyl-hexanale
(3.37%), pelargonaldehyde (3.26%), hyperforine (3.27%), 2-pentyl
furan (2.71%), oleic acid (2.68%), and 4-azidoheptane (2.02%) (Ayoola
et al., 2018) In another study, phytochemical investigation of a DA
680 MANZIONE ET AL.
decoction resulted in the identification of flavonoids such as vicenin-2,
isoschaftoside, schaftoside, 2-O-xylosylvitexin, 2-O-pentosyl-
chexosylapigenin, and an O-hexosyl-C-hexosyl-apigenin, tentatively
identified as 2-O-glucosyl-vitexin (van Dooren et al., 2018). In addi-
tion, DA decoction possessed vitexin and isovitexin glycosides at high
concentration: vitexin and the C-glycosides thereof were investigated
for their interaction at the gastrointestinal level (with simulation test)
reporting the stability of the molecules (van Dooren et al., 2018).
Muanda et al. evaluated the total phenolic profile in DA leaves which
were found to be a rich source of flavonoids with 12.8 mg of catechin
equivalent (CE)/g dry weight (dw) (Muanda et al., 2011). The amount
of total polyphenols was 11.1 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g
dw while that of total anthocyanin and total tannin compounds was
not elevated, equal to 0.0182 mg CE/g dw and 0.39 mg CE/g dw,
respectively. Finally, HPLC analyses revealed that the main phenolic
compound identified in the methanol–water extract was quercetin
dihydrate (2.11 mg/mL) (Figure 2d). The compounds identified in DA
are listed in Table 1. Recently, also seeds of D. gangeticum (L.) DC. were
evaluated and their content (oil and fatty acids) was examined. The
yield of crude oil was found to be 4.39%. Among the identified fatty
acids, oleic acid (38.7%), linoleic acid (35.4%), palmitic acid (11.2%),
behenic acid (8.0%), and stearic acid (4.5%) were the main constituents
(Manivel et al., 2018).
4 TRADITIONAL USE OF GENUS DESMODIUM
Ethnobotany describes relationships between humans and plants and
searches for traditional botanical knowledge. Ethnobotanical studies
explore the profound interaction between plant diversity, social, and
cultural systems to understand and develop knowledge of valuable
region-specific plants (Amjad et al., 2017; Baydoun et al., 2015). Among
these, Desmodium spp. were frequently reported as ethnomedicinal
plants. In particular, DA is the most known and used plant, also called
beggar-lice, beggar weed, tick clover, or tick trefoil (Rastogi et al.,
2011). The simple use of DA by decoction (the act of placing a plant
or its part in hot water and the possibility to be administered orally or
topically) led to the wide diffusion of this plant (Baydoun et al., 2015).
In Brazil, this species is without difficulty collected in the Northeast,
Center West, and Southeast regions (Rastogi et al., 2011). In Mato
Grosso, the plant is known as “amores do campo” or “carrapichinho
and in São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul as “pega-pega” (Santos et al.,
2013). Its leaves are commonly collected to treat leucorrhea, gonor-
rhea, diarrheas, body aches, excessiveurination, hepatic infections, and
ovarian inflammations (Rastogi et al., 2011). In France and Belgium, this
plant is traditionally used as a food health supplement for its hepato-
protective effects (Muanda et al., 2011). DA is a woody stem climbing
plant that also grows in fallow land on the west coast of Africa, fre-
quently found in Nigeria, Cameroon, and Zimbabwe. This perennial
herb produces numerous light-purple flowers and green fruits in small,
beanlike pods (Adeniyi et al., 2013). It is a solitary hedgerow grow-
ing in humid lands, and it is widespread in savannas and forests (Azani
et al., 2017). In Africa, plants of the Desmodium genus are extensively
used to heal asthma and smooth muscle spasms (Muanda et al., 2011).
In China, the use of Desmodium spp. for ethnomedicinal purposes
dates back as far as 3000 years ago. They were mainly used to treat
fever, block pain, restore blood circulation, counteract toxins, remove
cough, and relieve dyspnea. Ethnopharmacological studies on DA in
India showed a broad spectrum of activities including antileishmanial,
antiviral, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiulcer, cardio-protective,
antidiabetic, and anti-amnesia, and hepatoprotective (Rastogi et al.,
2011). Currently, in Chinese and Indian medicines, Desmodium species
are used to approach with fever, rheumatism, hemoptysis, abscess,
common cold, wounds, icteric hepatitis, pharyngitis, infantile malnutri-
tion, dysentery, urinary diseases, parotitis, cholecystitis, malaria, and
epidemic encephalitis (Ma et al., 2011; Rastogi et al., 2011).
D. gangeticum, another recognized and used plant of the same genus
commonly known as ‘Salpan’, ‘Salpani’ in Hindi and ‘Shalparni’ in San-
skrit, is used in Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani systems of medicine either
as a single drug or in combination with other drugs. D. gangeticum is
an accepted source of Shaliparni as per the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia
of India (Vaghela et al., 2012). This plant with bitter tonic, febrifuge,
digestive, anticatarrhal, and antiemetic properties, is used in inflam-
matory conditions of the chest and other cases due to “vata” disorder
(in Ayurveda, vata is one of the three principles of energy associated
with movement). The roots have been used as an expectorant and in
snake bites and scorpion stings. It is an ingredient of Ayurvedic prepa-
rations like “Dashmoolarishta” and “Dashmoolakwaath recommended
for postnatal care to avoid secondary complications (Rastogi et al.,
2011).
Desmodium species that form a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with rhi-
zobia play an important role in sustainable agriculture (Delamuta
et al., 2015; Xu et al., 2016). They are very effective in suppressing
weeds while improving soil fertility. In addition, these plants provide
high-value animal fodder and forage, inducing milk production and
expanding farmers’ income sources (Khan et al., 2014; Thomas & Sum-
berg, 1995). In general, soil microedges provide an ecological niche
for Desmodium spp. (Kowalski & Henry, 2019). Furthermore, DA has
been used as a ground cover in post-mining lands. It was documented
that this plant is an important instrument in soil conservation and
rehabilitation, especially in degraded soils (Tambunan et al., 2017).
In addition, a very recent work analyzed the effects of DA and
Arachis repens as cover crops on banana plantations (Reine Kosso Boka
et al., 2022). The authors showed that only Arachis repens (and not DA)
were able to enrich the biological soil fertility because it increased
arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal spores at a different time of analysis (6
and 12 months).
5PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF
DESMODIUM ADSCENDENS
The pharmacological properties of DA have been widely explored dur-
ing the past decades (Rastogi et al., 2011). In the following sections, we
summarize the scientific evidence of the therapeutic potential of DA
obtained from preclinical experiments and clinical trials (Table 2).
MANZIONE ET AL.681
TAB L E 1 Chemical compounds from leaves of D. adscendens
Source Compounds References
Alkaloids
Aqueous extract,
ethanol 70%
Dimethyltryptamine, dimethyoxyphenylethylamine,
salsoline, hordenine, tyramine, gramine
Baiocchi et al. (2013),
Addy and Schwartzman
(1995)
Flavonoids
Decoction,
ethanol 70%,
methanol 50%,
methanol 70%
6C,8C-Dihexosyl-kaempferol, 5-O-hexosyl-apigenin,
6-C,8-C-dihexosyl-apigenin, 6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-kaempferol, 5-O-hexosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-diosmetin,
6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-apigenin, 8-C-hexosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-pentosyl-8-C-hexosyl-apigenin,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-rhamnosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-apigenin,
5-O-pentosyl-1,6-rhamnosyl-kaempferol, saponarin
(6-C-hexosyl-7-O-hexosyl-apigenine),
7-O-pentosyl-1,6-rhamnosyl-kaempferol,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-apigenin, vitexin(8-C-hexosyl-apigenin),
5-O-rhamnosyl-(1-6)-hexosyl-apigenin,
5-O-pentosyl-(1-6)-hexosyl-apigenin,
6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-kaempferol, astragalin
(3-O-hexosyl-kaempferol), 6-C-hexosyl-8-C-rhamnosyl-apigenin,
5-O-pentosyl-(1,6)-hexosyl-diosmetin, 6-C-hexosyl-8-C-pentosyl-apigenin,
6-C-rhamnosyl-8-C-hexosyl-apigenin,
6-C-hexosyl-7-O-rhamnosyl-apigenin, 7-O-rhamnosil-quercetin,
6-C-rhamnosyl-8-C-hexosyl-apigenin, 7-O-hexosyl-kaempfero,
1,6-rhamnosyl-7-O-hexosyl-7-apigenin, 7-O-hexosyl-apigenin,
7-O-pentosyl-1,6-hexosyl-diosmetin, isovitexin 2-O-xyloside, vitexin
2-O-xyloside, vitexin, isovitexin, 2-O-glucosyl-vitexin, vicenin-2,
schaftoside, isoschaftoside, 2-O-xylosylvitexin, 2-O-pentosyl-C-hexosyl
apigenin, epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, quercetin glucosyl, quercetin
dehydrate
Muanda et al. (2011),
Baiocchi et al. (2013),
Zielinska-Pisklak et al.
(2015)
Van dooren et al. (2018)
Phenolic acids
Methanol 50%,
methanol 70%
Caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid,
protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, cinnamic acid
Muanda et al. (2011)
Saponins
Ethanol 70% Soyasaponin I, soyasaponin III,
dehydrosoyasaponin I, and soyasapogenol B and E
Baiocchi et al. (2013)
Terpenoids
Essential oil α-Terpinene, α-terpinolene, linalool, geraniol
α-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, epoxide II humulene eudesma
Muanda et al. (2011)
Fatty acids
Essential oil Margaric acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid Muanda et al. (2011)
Others
Essential oil 2-Pentyl furan, 1-methyl silabenzène, azido-4 heptane, 2-(N-methyl
pyrrolidine) methenamine, 3-hexen-1-ol,2,2- dimethyl-hexanal, 3-octenol,
pelargonaldehyde, methyl benzoate, perillardehyde, mandelic acid,
b-ionone, ol-13 8-cedrene, 3-(2-pentyl) 1,2,4- cyclopentanetrione, oleic
acid, phytone, scytalone, hyperforin, palmitic acid, margaric acid,
α-isomethyl ionone, linoleic acid, 4,6,9- nonadecatriene, cetanole
Muanda et al. (2011)
682 MANZIONE ET AL.
TAB L E 2 Preclinical and clinical pharmacological properties of D. adscendens
Types of samples
administrated Results References
Aqueous or alcoholic extracts
of DA
Decrease in the anaphylactic contraction of ileal pieces from sensitized guinea
pigs
Addy and Awumey (1984)
Oral administration of the
extracts
Reduction in the sensitivity of trachea-bronchial smooth muscle to histamine
and decreased the amount of muscle stimulating substances released from
the lungs
Addy (1992)
DHS-I purified from crude
extracts of DA
Activation of maxi-K which regulates bronchospasms McManus et al. (1993)
n-butanol fraction of DA Increase in prostaglandin synthesis Addy and Schwartzman (1995)
Intraperitoneal administration
of the plant extract
Hypothermia, a reduction of acetic acid-induced writhes and climbing activities,
analgesic properties, and a delay in the onset of clonic PTZ convulsion
N’Gouemo et al. (1996),
Amoateng et al. (2017)
Leaf extracts Antioxidant and antiradical activities Muanda et al. (2011)
Hydroalcoholic extract of DA Cytoprotective effects in human kidney LLC-PK1 François et al. (2015)
D-pinitol isolated from aqueous
decoction of DA
Hepatoprotective properties Magielse et al. (2013)
Lisosan® Reduction Hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects Russo et al. (2019)
Hexane/methanol extract of DA Antimicrobial effects against Staphylococcus aureus SA1199 and Candida
albicans ATCC 90029 strains
Adeniyi et al. (2013)
Silver nanoparticles Antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli Thirunavoukkarasu et al.
(2013)
DA decoction Vitexin and C-glycosides were stable during their passage in the
gastrointestinal tract, while the O-glycosidic bonds of O-glycosides of vitexin
were metabolized by the colon bacteria. The flavonoid fraction and D-pinitol
were both stable.
Van Dooren et al. (2018)
DA combined with
Lithotamnium calcareum
Patients with head and neck cancer were concomitantly treated with standard
chemotherapy.ECOG and GPS scores were found to be stable throughout
the study. Moreover, both pain and fatigue significantly improved at a later
stage of the therapy.
Imperatori et al. (2018)
5.1 Preclinical experiments
5.1.1 Anti-asthmatic properties
In 1984, Addy and Awumey performed the first preclinical study to
evaluate the effects of DA extracts on anaphylaxis in guinea pigs
(M. E. Addy & Awumey, 1984). For this purpose, animals were sensi-
tized with egg albumin (antigen) to provoke an allergic reaction and
bronchial smooth muscle contractions. Guinea pigs were then divided
into three groups. One group was treated with water (control), one
with aqueous, and one with alcoholic extract of DA (DAE). Extracts
were administered orally. Anaphylaxis was assessed by determining
the contractions of the ileal pieces. The study revealed that animals
receiving an aqueous or alcoholic extract of DA had less than 50%
bronchial contractions compared to control animals. Histamine con-
tent of lung tissues of guinea pigs treated with plant extracts was
reduced by more than 50% compared to animals treated with water.
The authors proposed that DAE probably interfered with the release
of inflammatory mediators. Nevertheless, they did not isolate the
active components responsible for the anti-inflammatory action and
the work did not compare the use of DA with standard pharmaco-
logical therapy (i.e., prednisolone, chlorpheniramine, ketotifen, etc.)
for anaphylaxis in experimental models. Subsequent studies identified
triterpenoid saponins, β-phenylethylamines, and tetrahydroisoquino-
lines in DA as the main effectors of the potential anti-asthmatic
activity of DA (M. E. Addy & Schwartzman, 1995). In vitro experiments
using microsomes from the human kidney, cortex showed that two
phenylethylamines found in DA, tyramine,and hordenine, activated the
NADPH-dependent cytochrome P450 monooxygenase and increased
the levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Salsoline, a tetrahydroisoquino-
line derivative found in DA, inhibited P450 monooxygenase and
decreased the levels of PGE2 (M. E. Addy, 1992). In 1993, McManus
et al. (1993) purified dehydrosoyasaponin I (DHS-I), a triterpene
glycoside, from crude extracts of DA. When applied to bovine tra-
cheal smooth muscle membranes, DHS-I could activate reversibly and,
with high-affinity, calcium-dependent potassium channels (maxi-K) by
partially inhibiting the binding of monoiodotyrosine charybdotoxin
(125I-ChTX) to receptor sites (Ki=120 nM, 62% maximum inhibition)
(McManus et al., 1993). Maxi-K channels regulate the muscle tone of
lung airways and the release of substances that causes bronchocon-
striction and inflammation. These results suggest that different classes
of bioactive molecules found in DA may haveanti-asthmatic properties.
However, in vivo studies are needed to compare the beneficial effects
of the phytochemicals found in DA with the effects of chemically
MANZIONE ET AL.683
related molecules found in other natural sources. For example, soya
saponins extracted from soya beans have promisinganti-inflammatory
activities in mice (Kang et al., 2005). Saponins content of soya beans
is also higher compared to the percentage of soyasaponins found in
DA (0.43–0.76% in soya beans compare to 0.003–0.03% in DA) (M.
E. Addy, 1992), and, therefore, it should be carefully evaluated which
plant source is more convenient to use for future therapeutic applica-
tion. Moreover,a comparison with a standard therapy would be helpful
to uncover the alleged benefits of DA or other medicinal plants.
5.1.2 Neurological effects
In 1996, the neuropharmacological profile of DAE in rodents was
examined (N’Gouemo et al., 1996). Intraperitoneal administration of
the plant extract at doses of 1000 mg/kg caused abdominal contrac-
tions, decreased spontaneous motor activity, and exploratory behavior.
Moreover, administration of DAE (300 mg/kg) caused a significant fall
in body temperature (p<0.05) compared to untreated animals. Injec-
tion of 109.89 mg/kg of DA inhibited acetic acid-induced writhes by
50% compared with injection of the vehicle. In addition, pretreatment
with 300 mg/kg DAE inhibited tonic pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced
convulsions and significantly (p<0.05) postponed the onset of clonic
PTZ convulsion (N’Gouemo et al., 1996). The authors suggested that
DA at 300 mg/kg could have depressant activity on the central ner-
vous system, together with anticonvulsant and analgesic effects in
mice. More recently, a similar study investigated the antipsychotic-
like properties of DAE in mice (Amoateng et al., 2017). Animals were
orally pretreated with 30, 100, 300, 1000, and 3000 mg/kg DAE or
vehicle. The effects on spontaneous motor activity and general anes-
thetic effects (Irwin’s test) were measured for 3 h after treatment.
Doses up to 300 mg/kg did not cause detectable neurological effects
in agreement with the previous observation (N’Gouemo et al., 1996).
However,mice pretreated for 15–30 min with 1000–3000 mg/kg of DA
were sedated. Locomotor behavior was also evaluated by comparing
mice treated with 1000 mg/kg DAE or with 1 mg/kg chlorpromazine,
a well-known antipsychotic agent, or water (negative control). The
frequency of rearing in mice treated with DAE was significantly
decreased (p0.001) by 50% compared to control animals (water).
Apomorphine-induced cage climbing was decreased after pretreat-
ment with 300–1000 mg/kg of DAE although the effects were less
potent compared to treatment with haloperidol (HAL). The total dura-
tion of HAL-induced catalepsy in mice was significantly increased
(p0.01) after pretreatment with 1000 mg/kg DA. Overall, these stud-
ies suggest that DAE used at 1000 mg/kg has potential sedative and
analgesic effects, that need to be further investigated in human stud-
ies. Moreover, the authors proposed that the antipsychotic effects
were probably due to the presence of flavonoids acting on choliner-
gic or serotonergic mechanisms. More recently, a survey from Goma
city in the Democratic Republic of Congo reported that people from
this region made use of different plant extracts including DA for the
treatment of different mental disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety, post-
traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) (Kyolo et al., 2022). Even
if the work investigated the ethnopharmacological use of DA, it has
not been possible to conclude the real benefit of DA in these diseases,
both of the anecdotic uses and lack of standardization. Clinical trials
are necessary to pursue the matter.
In other studies, it has been shown that salsolinol (a tetrahydroiso-
quinoline derivative), found in DA and other natural sources, showed
both neuroprotective and neurotoxic activities in mice (Kurnik-Lucka
et al., 2018). Interestingly, salsolinol is also produced endogenously
from dopamine, indeed it was first detected in the urine of Parkinsonian
patients on therapy with L-DOPA (L-dihydroxyphenylalanine) (Sandler
et al., 1973). This suggested a role in Parkinson’s pathogenesis as a neu-
rotoxin that can induce apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons due to its
structural similarity to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine
(MPTP) (CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, 2020). However, salsolinol
can be found in numerous plants and protein-derived foods, that is,
bananas, cheese, cocoa, eggs, flour, etc. (Deng et al., 1997)andeven
if potentially implicated in the disease, up to now it is not possible to
determine a clear positive or negative impact of salsolinol on human
health. What emerges from different studies is that it colocalizes with
dopamine-rich regions not only in the brain but also in the enteric
nervous system and gut microbiota (CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets,
2020). Different aspects of the pharmacological and biological profile
of salsolinol still need to be established, but it is tempting to specu-
late that this molecule can be probably responsible for the neurological
effects of DA or can act to enhance the effect of endogenous salsolinol
in animal models.
5.1.3 Antioxidant properties
Muanda and collaborators evaluated the antioxidant properties of DA
leaves by measuring the levels of intracellular radical oxygen species
(ROS) in mouse granulocytes exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
and treated with DA extracts (Muanda et al., 2011). ROS levels were
evaluated by flow cytometry. The results showed that treatment with
25 mg/mL of DA reduced the level of intracellular of 83.2 ±6.21%
of ROS level generated by exogenous H2O2. Moreover, HPLC anal-
ysis of DAE showed a significant content of phenolic, flavonoids,
anthocyanins, and tannins with known antioxidant properties. In a sub-
sequent study, it was shown that treatment of pig kidney (LLC-PK1)
cells with 1 mg/mL of DAE significantly improved the viability of LLC-
PK1 cells exposed to glucose-induced oxidative stress (Francois et al.,
2015). The protective effect of DAE was not dose-dependent since
treatment with 30 mg/mL did not restore cell proliferation. These data
suggest that DA extract may have antioxidant activity at least in in
vitro experiments (Francois, Fares, Baiocchi & Maixent, 2015). Addi-
tional in vivo studies are needed to confirm the protective effects
of DA in comparison with well-known natural antioxidants such as
quercetin, resveratrol, and curcumin (Simioni et al., 2018). Of note that
ROS cell levels were decreased by DA leaf aqueous extract, suggest-
ing a scavenging activity capacity of the plant (Muanda et al., 2011).
A straight association between phenolic compounds and antioxidant
activity (R2=0.96) was found, with a concentration-response curve for
684 MANZIONE ET AL.
reduction of ROS generated by exogenous H2O2in blood cells derived
from mice. The author concluded that DA possessed pharmacologi-
cal activity to be potentially tested in clinical trials; however, no other
work followed this suggestion. Consequently,the supposed antioxidant
properties of DA are justified only in a preclinical setting and need to be
confirmed in human experiments.
5.1.4 Hepatoprotective properties of D-pinitol
isolated from DA
The work of Magielse and collaborators evaluated the protective
effect of D-pinitol (or 3-O-methyl-D-chiro-inositol) isolated from
aqueous decoction of DA against acute liver damage induced by
D-galactosamine and chronic ethanol-induced liver damage in rats
(Magielse et al., 2013). The authors compared the effects of several
dosages of D-pinitol with that of silymarin, a natural compound with
known hepatoprotective activity in vivo (Baradaran et al., 2019;Fre-
itag et al., 2015). Oral administration of 5 mg/kg D-pinitol significantly
reduced aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT)
levels (biomarkers for liver damage) 48 h after galactosamine injection
at least in the acute liver damage model. Similar results were obtained
with 20 mg/kg of silymarin. However, DA decoction nor pure D-pinitol
at doses of 10–20 mg/kg had no hepatocurative effects on the chronic
hepatotoxicity model. Thus, it is conceivable that the potential hep-
atoprotective activity of DA is fundamental in an acute setting, while
in the chronic model the plant shows a limiting effect. In addition,
the authors used a limited number of animals in ethanol-induced liver
damage with a modest increase in serum AST and ALT. Such experi-
mental constraints could distort the real effect of DA in the chronic
model and will force the researchers to further deepen the supposed
hepatoprotective activity of DA in new experiments.
5.1.5 Hepatoprotective properties of DA
More recently, the beneficial effects of Lisosan® Reduction, a combi-
nation of medicinal plant extracts, were tested in mice high-fat diet
(HFD)-fed mice (Russo et al., 2019). The plant mixture, produced from a
powder of fermented DA, Triticum aestivum,Malus domestica,Picrorhiza
kurroa,andHordeum vulgare, has a polyphenol profile composed of
syringic acid, trans-sinapic acid, and neochlorogenic acid, followed by
vitexin, trans-p-coumaric acid, and trans ferulic acid. The study showed
that administration of Lisosan® Reduction (60 mg/kg) had hypoc-
holesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects in HFD mice by restoring
the levels of total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and glucose with
no toxic effect (ALT and AST levels resulted unaffected by the for-
mulation). Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of Lisosan® Reduction
cannot be directly related to the presence of DA, which represented
20% of the total mixture. Among the four most abundant constituents
of Lisosan® Reduction, syringic acid (284.69 ±0.77 mg/kg), trans-
sinapic acid (117.39 ±1.07 mg/kg), neochlorogenic acid (115.88 ±
0.28 mg/kg), and vitexin (60.40 ±1.24 mg/kg), only the last has been
identified in DA so far (van Dooren et al., 2018; Zielinska-Pisklak
et al., 2015). Syringic acid and trans-sinapic are found in T. aestivum
(Wu et al., 2001), which represents 64% of Lisosan® Reduction while
neochlorogenic acid is one of the main polyphenolic compounds in
M. domestica (Crozier et al., 2006) (10% of Lisosan mixture). Conse-
quently, the real activity of DA in the product Lisosan® Reduction is
probably limited and restricted, even if the product showed hypoc-
holesterolemic and hepatoprotective in a mouse model. As mentioned
in the previous section, DA still needs to be deeply studied to uncover
its hepatoprotective properties.
5.1.6 Antimicrobial properties
In the study conducted by Adeniyi et al. different concentrations of
DA hexane/methanol extract showed a significant antimicrobial effect
on Staphylococcus aureus SA1199 and Candida albicans ATCC 90029
strains (Adeniyi et al., 2013). At the concentration of 0.25 mg/mL,
the percentage of S. aureus cells death was approximately 100%
within 120 min. Comparable results were obtained for C. albicans.It
has been shown that silver nanoparticles have antimicrobial effects
(Cho et al., 2005). Different research groups used the leaf aqueous
extract of Desmodium gangeticum (L) DC. (abbreviated DG) to synthe-
size silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with sizes ranging from 18 to 39 nm
(Thirunavoukkarasu et al., 2013; Vasanth & Kurian, 2017). The antibac-
terial property of the DG-based AgNPs was tested against S. aureus
(ATCC strain) and Escherichia coli (ATCC strain). At a concentration
of 2500–5000 μg/mL DG-based AgNPs were highly toxic against E.
coli, thus suggesting the potential use of D. gangeticum in the produc-
tion of antimicrobials of a new generation. However, another study
showed that oral administration of 100 mg/kg, DG-based AgNPs in
rats-induced alterations in renal architecture. Moreover, cytotoxicity
was observed in LLC PK1 cells when treated for 24 h with 1 mg/mL
nanoparticles (Vasanth & Kurian, 2017). These outcomes using DG can
be used as a model for future experimentation of DA since the two
species belong to the same genus and partially share the antimicrobial
effect. Although nanoparticles are known for their easy permeability in
tissues and most relevant studies were performed on the DG plant, it
is important to optimize the antimicrobial in vitro and in vivo effects of
DA for a future and safer administration in higher organisms.
5.2 Clinical data
DA possesses numerous pharmacological properties, and it is popular
as herbal tea. Nevertheless, only a few studies investigated the phar-
macological properties and/or toxicities of DA in humans. In 2018, van
Dooren and collaborators used the in vitro gastrointestinal dialysis
model combined with HPLC to investigate the biotransformation of D-
pinitol, vitexin, and the flavonoid fraction of DA decoction (van Dooren
et al., 2018). The authors found that vitexin and C-glycosides were sta-
ble during their passage in the gastrointestinal dialysis model, while
the O-glycosidic bonds of O-glycosides of vitexin were metabolized by
MANZIONE ET AL.685
the colon bacteria. The flavonoid fraction was stable since no biotrans-
formation occurred in the colon phase. D-pinitol was also very stable
during passage through the gastric, small intestine, and colonic phases.
Nevertheless, the in vitro model used in this study did not give infor-
mation about the absorption or the enzymatic reactions occurring in
the intestine. Thus, it will be interesting to evaluate these processes in
the future, as the DA metabolism is understudied in humans.
In 2019, a single-arm study investigated the therapeutic poten-
tial of Desmovit®, a medical device containing 300 mg of DA leaves
and 50 mg of Lithotamnium calcareum (a red marine algae rich in cal-
cium and magnesium) in patients with head and neck cancer treated
with standard chemotherapy (paclitaxel 75 mg/m2plus carboplatin
or methotrexate 40 mg/m2) (Imperatori et al., 2018). Twelve patients
received an intravenous infusion of paclitaxel or methotrexate and
a medical device containing 300 mg of DA leaves and 50 mg of L.
calcareum. Patients were monitored for 12 weeks byassessing the Glas-
gow Prognostic Score (GPS), a prognostic score that evaluates the
plasma level of C-reactive protein and albumin levels, and by exam-
ining the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance
status, (used to determine how patients tolerate the therapy) (Oken
et al., 1982). Pain and fatigue were also examined. Patients treated
with Desmovit® had stable GPS scores throughout the 10 weeks-study
with ECOG scores that slightly increased at week 10. Moreover, both
pain and fatigue significantly improved at a later stage of the therapy
(weeks 8–10). The study could not conclude that the potential ben-
eficial events are exclusively imputable to DA because concomitant
administration of L. calcareum and/or standard chemotherapy could
have played a role. Even if nonexhaustive and preliminary, this clinical
trial shed new light on the therapeutic potential of this plant. Undoubt-
edly, more comprehensive studies and clinical evidence are necessary
to expand the use of DA in other human diseases.
6TOXICITY
The first in vivo example of acute toxicity was observed after intraperi-
toneal administration of DA extract in mice (N’Gouemo et al., 1996).
Only 25% of mice receiving 300 mg/kg of plant extract showed abdom-
inal contractions, while a dose of 1000 mg/kg was associated with
more severe neurological symptoms, such as reduced spontaneous
motor activity and exploratory behavior. In 2015, François et al. (2015)
evaluated the safety and the protective effect of a hydro-alcoholic
extract of DA on the human liver (HepG2) and pig kidney (LLC-PK1)
cells (Francois et al., 2015). The authors performed cell viability assays
using different concentrations of plant extract (1, 10, or 100 mg/mL).
The results showed that treatment of LLC PK1 and HepG2 cells with
100 mg/mL of DA for 24 h reduced cell proliferation by 35% and
50%, respectively, compared with control (dimethyl sulfoxide). No
toxicity was observed at dosages of 1 and 10 mg/mL. In a topical work,
Quaye et al. investigated the effect of DA leaf extract on liver and kid-
ney function in rats (Quaye et al., 2017). The authors recorded the
animal mortality after oral administration of various doses of plant
extract or 5 mL of standard saline solution as control (acute toxicity
study). The mean doses that induced 50% lethality (LD50) were cal-
culated and used for subchronic toxicity studies. The results showed
that doses higher than 1122 mg/kg (LD50) caused severe signs such
as piloerection of both the fur and the whiskers, shiny eyes, agitation,
and diarrhea. On autopsy treated rats had wrinkled lungs, darker-
colored liver, and dark spots in kidneys. Biomarkers of liver damage
(ALT and AST enzymes) and direct bilirubin concentration were also
increased after administration of DA, while other biomarkers (serum
creatinine concentration, γ-glutamyltransferase, protein concentra-
tion, total bilirubin, and blood urea nitrogen) were not altered. Thus,
the authors suggested that low dosages of DA (1–100 mg/kg) could be
safely used in animal models, similar to another study in which treat-
ment with 300 mg/kg did not cause significant side effects (Amoateng
et al., 2017). Furthermore, even if D. gangeticum was used and not
DA, administration of DG-based silver nanoparticles in rats altered
renal architecture, even though behavioral or physiological changes
were absent (Vasanth & Kurian, 2017). Moreover, treatment with DG-
based nanoparticles also caused cytotoxicity (cell death augmentation)
and mitotoxicity (oxidative stress increase) in LLC PK1 cells as above
reported (Vasanth & Kurian, 2017). We can assume that the same
effects could be seen with DA, but certainly only in vitro and in vivo
data can answer such a hypothesis.
7FUTURE PERSPECTIVE AND CONCLUSIONS
In developing countries, plants have been always part of an ethnophar-
macological use, given the economic straits of people living in such
countries. Recently, it has been observed an increasing trend in con-
suming plant-derived compounds (supplements, foods, homemade
preparations), especially in Western countries. Leaving aside the rea-
sons why humans are paying more interest toward plants, it is undeni-
able that in the past decade the use of plant extracts or plant-derived
compounds has grown exponentially. On the one hand, this fact is
certainly positive because it turns attention towards a world away
from the spotlight; on the other hand, it favors the use of plants or
their derived compounds for which a scientific rational study is not
always available. For DA, different studies have been conducted pro-
viding evidence of its medical use, essentially derived and based on
ethnobotanical use in Africa and India. Rational evidence originates
from different preclinical in vitro and in vivo research on DA (Ma et al.,
2011; Rastogi et al., 2011) and one clinical trial (Imperatori et al., 2018).
These proofs, although of a certain value, cannot clearly and definitely
justify the use of DA in humans, lacking a large, randomized, placebo-
controlled study. Thus, a well-prepared clinical trial is urgently needed
to assess the effectiveness and safety of DA.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank dr. Mauricio Mercadante for providing images of Figure 1
and dr. Susi Barollo for her help with the English language. This work
received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public,
commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
686 MANZIONE ET AL.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
ORCID
Javad Sharifi-Rad https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7301-8151
REFERENCES
Addy, M. E. (1992). Some secondary plant metabolites in Desmodium adscen-
dens and their effects on arachidonic acid metabolism. Prostaglandins
Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids,47(1), 85–91. https://doi.org/10.
1016/0952-3278(92)90191- k
Addy, M. E., & Awumey, E. M. (1984). Effects of the extracts of Desmod-
ium adscendens on anaphylaxis. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,11(3),
283–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(84)90074-6
Addy, M. E., & Schwartzman, M. L. (1995). An extract of Desmodium adscen-
dens activates cyclooxygenase and increases prostaglandin synthesis by
ram seminal vesicle microsomes. Phytotherapy Research,9(4), 287–293.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2650090411
Adeniyi, B. A., Izuka, K. C., Odumosu, B., & Aiyelaagbe, O. O. (2013). Antibac-
terial and antifungal activities of methanol extracts of Desmodium
adscendens root and Bombax buonopozense leaves. International Journal of
Biological and Chemical Sciences,7(1), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.4314/
ijbcs.v7i1i.15
Amjad, M. S., Qaeem, M. F., Ahmad, I., Khan, S. U., Chaudhari, S. K., Zahid
Malik, N., Shaheen, H., & Khan, A. M. (2017). Descriptive study of plant
resources in the context of the ethnomedicinal relevance of indige-
nous flora: A case study from Toli Peer National Park, Azad Jammu and
Kashmir, Pakistan. Plos One,12(2), e0171896. https://doi.org/10.1371/
journal.pone.0171896
Amoateng, P., Adjei, S., Osei-Safo, D., Kukuia, K. K. E., Karikari, T. K., &
Nyarko, A. K. (2017). An ethanolic extract of Desmodium adscendens
exhibits antipsychotic-like activity in mice. Journal of Basic and Clinical
Physiology and Pharmacology,28(5), 507–518. https://doi.org/10.1515/
jbcpp-2016- 0115
Ayoola, G., Eze, S., Johnson, O.,& Adeyemi, D. (2018). Phytochemical screen-
ing, antioxidant, antiulcer and toxicity studies on Desmodium adscendens
(Sw) DC Fabaceae leaf and stem. Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical
Research,17, 1301–1307. https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v17i7.11
Azani, N., Babineau, M., Bailey, C. D., Banks, H., Barbosa, A. R., Pinto, R.
B., Boatwright, J. S., Borges, L. M., Brown, G. K., Bruneau, A., Candido,
E., Cardoso, D., Chung, K.-F., Clark, R. P., Conceição, A. d. S., Crisp, M.,
Cubas, P., Delgado-Salinas, A., Dexter, K. G., ...,& Zimmerman,E.(2017).
A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomi-
cally comprehensive phylogeny: The Legume Phylogeny Working Group
(LPWG). Taxo n ,66(1), 44–77. https://doi.org/10.12705/661.3
Baiocchi, C., Medana, C., Giancotti, V., Aigotti, R., Dal Bello, F., Massolino,
C., Gastaldi, D., & Grandi, M. (2013). Qualitative characteriza-
tion of Desmodium adscendens constituents by high-performance
liquid chromatography-diode array ultraviolet-electrospray ion-
ization multistage mass spectrometry. European Journal of Mass
Spectrometry(Chichester),19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1255/ejms.
1214
Baradaran, A., Samadi, F., Ramezanpour, S. S., & Yousefdoust, S. (2019). Hep-
atoprotective effects of silymarin on CCl4-induced hepatic damage in
broiler chickens model. Toxicological Reports,6, 788–794. https://doi.org/
10.1016/j.toxrep.2019.07.011
Baydoun, S., Chalak, L., Dalleh, H., & Arnold, N. (2015). Ethnopharmaco-
logical survey of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by the
communities of Mount Hermon, Lebanon. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
173, 139–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.06.052
Cho, K.-H., Park, J.-E., Osaka, T., & Park, S.-G. (2005). The study of
antimicrobial activity and preservative effects of nanosilver ingredient.
Electrochimica Acta,51(5), 956–960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.
2005.04.071
Voon, S. M., Ng, K. Y., Chye, S. M., Ling, A. P. K., Voon, K. G. L., Yap, Y.J., & Koh,
R. Y. (2020). The Mechanism of Action of Salsolinol in Brain: Implications
in Parkinson’s Disease. CNS & Neurological Disorders- Drug Targets,19(10),
725–740. https://doi.org/10.2174/1871527319666200902134129
Crozier, A., Yokota, T., Jaganath, I. B., Marks, S., Saltmarsh, M., & Clifford,
M. N. (2006). Secondary metabolites in fruits, vegetables, beverages and
other plant based dietary components. In A. Crozier, M.N. Clifford, & H.
Ashihara (Eds.), Plant secondary metabolites: Occurrence, structure and role
in the human diet. (pp. 208–302). Wiley.
Delamuta, J. R., Ribeiro, R. A., Ormeno-Orrillo, E., Parma, M. M., Melo, I. S.,
Martinez-Romero, E., & Hungria, M. (2015). Bradyrhizobium tropiciagri sp.
nov. and Bradyrhizobium embrapense sp. nov., nitrogen-fixing symbionts
of tropical forage legumes. International Journal of Systematic and Evolu-
tionary Microbiology,65(12), 4424–4433. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.
0.000592
Deng, Y., Maruyama, W., Kawai, M., Dostert, P., Yamamura, H., Takahashi, T.,
& Naoi, M. (1997). Assay for the (R)- and (S)-enantiomers of salsolinols in
biological samples and foods with ion-pair high-performance liquid chro-
matography using beta-cyclodextrin as a chiral mobile phase additive.
Journal of Chromatography, B, Biomedical Sciences and Applications,689,
313–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4347(96)00359-3
Farid, B., Rafiou, M., Marcellin, A., Durand, D., Nabede, A., Sylvestre, A. A.,
Haziz, S., Adolphe, A., Aly, S., & Lamine, B.-M. (2018). Ethnobotanical
survey of three species of Desmodium genus (Desmodium ramosissimum,
Desmodium gangeticum and Desmodium adscendens) used in traditional
medicine, Benin. International Journal of Sciences,4(12), 26–33. https://
doi.org/10.18483/ijSci.1860
Francois, C., Fares, M., Baiocchi, C., & Maixent, J. M. (2015). Safety of
Desmodium adscendens extracts on hepatocytes and renal cells. Protec-
tive effect against oxidative stress. Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharma-
cology,4(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.5455/jice.20141013041312
Freitag, A. F., Cardia, G. F., da Rocha, B. A., Aguiar, R. P., Silva-Comar, F. M.,
Spironello, R. A., Grespan, R., Caparroz-Assef, S. M., Aparecida Bersani-
Amado, C., & Cuman, R. K. (2015). Hepatoprotective effect of sily-
marin (Silybum marianum) on hepatotoxicity induced by acetaminophen
in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine,2015, 538317. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/
538317
Gyamfi, M. A., Yonamine, M., & Aniya, Y. (1999). Free-radical scav-
enging action of medicinal herbs from Ghana: Thonningia sanguinea
on experimentally-induced liver injuries. General Pharmacology,32,
661–667.
Imperatori, L., Giardini, D., Latini, G., Migliori, G., Blasi, C., Bunkheila, F.,
Breschi, C., Mattioli, R., Pelliccioni, S., Laurino, C., Vadalà, M., Palmieri,
B., & Iannitti, T. (2018). Feasibility single-arm study of a medical device
containing Desmodium adscendens and Lithothamnium calcareum com-
bined with chemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. Cancer
Management Research,10, 5433–5438. https://doi.org/10.2147/cmar.
s165746
Jabbour, F.,Gaudeul, M., Lambourdiere, J., Ramstein, G., Hassanin, A., Labat,
J. N., & Sarthou, C. (2018). Phylogeny, biogeography and character evo-
lution in the tribe Desmodieae (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae), with special
emphasis on the New Caledonian endemic genera. Molecular Phylogenet-
ics and Evolution,118, 108–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2017.
09.017
Jin, D. P., Choi, I. S., & Choi, B. H. (2019). Plastid genome evolution in tribe
Desmodieae (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae). Plos One,14(6), e0218743.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0218743
Kang,J.H.,Sung,M.K.,Kawada,T.,Yoo,H.,Kim,Y.K.,Kim,J.S.,&Yu,
R. (2005). Soybean saponins suppress the release of proinflammatory
mediators by LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Cancer Letters,
230(2), 219–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.canlet.2004.12.041
MANZIONE ET AL.687
Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A., Pittchar, J. O., Murage, A. W., Birkett, M. A.,
Bruce, T. J., & Pickett, J. A. (2014). Achieving food security for one mil-
lion sub-Saharan African poor through push-pull innovation by 2020.
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biolog-
ical Sciences,369(1639), 20120284. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2012.
0284
Konan, K. M., Mamyrbékova-Békro, J. A., & Békro, Y.-A. (2012). Quantifica-
tion of total phenols and flavonoids of Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.
(Papilionaceae) and projection of their antioxidant capacity. Journal of
Applied Biosciences,49, 3355–3362.
Kowalski, J. J.,& Henry, H. A. L . (2019). Soil microedges provide an ecological
niche for Desmodium canadense.Plant Ecology,221, 15–24.
Kurnik-Lucka, M., Panula, P., Bugajski, A., & Gil, K. (2018). Salsolinol: An unin-
telligible and double-faced molecule-lessons learned from in vivo and
in vitro experiments. Neurotoxicity Research,33(2), 485–514. https://doi.
org/10.1007/s12640-017- 9818-6
Kyolo, S., Katuura, E., Bbosa, G., Mwebaza, N., Kibendelwa, Z., & Nakasujja,
N. (2022). Medicinal plants used in management of various mental ill-
nesses in Goma City, Democratic Republic of Congo. Neuroscience and
Medicine,13, 17–42. https://doi.org/10.4236/nm.2022.131002
Leonti, M. (2011). The future is written: Impact of scripts on the cog-
nition, selection, knowledge and transmission of medicinal plant use
and its implications for ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology. Journal
of Ethnopharmacology,134(3), 542–555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.
2011.01.017
Ma, X., Zheng, C., Hu, C., Rahman, K., & Qin, L. (2011). The genus Desmodium
(Fabaceae)-traditional uses in Chinese medicine, phytochemistry and
pharmacology. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,138(2), 314–332. https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.09.053
Magielse, J., Arcoraci, T., Breynaert, A., van Dooren, I., Kanyanga,C., Fransen,
E., Van Hoof, V., Vlietinck, A., Apers, S., Pieters, L., & Hermans, N.
(2013). Antihepatotoxic activity of a quantified Desmodium adscendens
decoction and D-pinitol against chemically-induced liver damage in rats.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology,146(1), 250–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/
j.jep.2012.12.039
Mamyrbékova-Békro, J. A., Konan, K. M., Békro, Y.-A., Djié Bi, M. G., Zomi
Bi, T. J., Mambo, V., & BB, B. (2008). Phytocompounds of the extracts of
four medicinal plants of Côte d’Ivoire and assessment of their potential
antioxidant by thin layer chromatography. European Journal of Scientific
Research,24(2), 219–228.
Manivel, P., Reddy, R. N., Raju, S., Thondaiman, V., & Ganvit, R. (2018).
Exploration and collection of genetic resources of Salparni (Desmodium
gangeticum L.) in India. International Journal of Minor Fruits, Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants,5(1), 21–28.
McManus, O. B., Harris, G. H., Giangiacomo, K. M., Feigenbaum, P., Reuben,
J. P., Addy, M. E., Burka, J. F., Kaczorowski, G. J., & Garcia, M. L. (1993).
An activator of calcium-dependent potassium channels isolated from
a medicinal herb. Biochemistry,32(24), 6128–6133. https://doi.org/10.
1021/bi00075a002
Muanda, F. N., Bouayed, J., Djilani, A., Yao, C., Soulimani, R., & Dicko, A.
(2011). Chemical composition and, cellular evaluation of the antioxidant
activity of Desmodium adscendens leaves. Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine,2011, 620862. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/
620862
N’Gouemo, P., Baldy-Moulinier, M., & Nguemby-Bina,C. (1996). Effects of an
ethanolic extract of Desmodium adscendens on central nervous system in
rodents. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,52(2), 77–83. https://doi.org/10.
1016/0378-8741(96)01389- x
Oken, M. M., Creech, R. H., Tormey, D. C., Horton, J., Davis, T. E., McFadden,
E. T.,& Carbone, P. P. (1982). Toxicityand response criteria of the Eastern
Cooperative Oncology Group. American Journal of Clinical Oncology,5(6),
649–655. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7165009
Parker, M. A., Jankowiak, J. G., & Landrigan, G. K. (2015). Diversifying
selection by Desmodiinae legume species on Bradyrhizobium sym-
bionts. FEMS Microbiology Ecology,91(7), fiv075. https://doi.org/10.
1093/femsec/fiv075
Quaye, O., Cramer, P., Ofosuhene, M., Okine, L. K. N., & Nyarko, A. K.
(2017). Acute and subchronic toxicity studies of aqueous extract of
Desmodium adscendens (Sw) DC. Journal of Evidence-Based Complemen-
tary & Alternative Medicine,22(4), 753–759. https://doi.org/10.1177/
2156587217736587
Rastogi, S., Pandey, M. M., & Rawat, A. K. (2011). An ethnomedicinal, phy-
tochemical and pharmacological profile of Desmodium gangeticum (L.)
DC. and Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC. Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
136(2), 283–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.04.031
ReineKossoBoka,N.,Cherif,M.,Jean-MartialKassi,K.F.,DidierKouame,K.,
Tuo, S., Frederic Kouame, K., Georges Elisee Amari, L.-N. D., Camara, B.,
Gilchrist Kouadio, E. Y.,& Emmanuel Dick, A. (2022). Effects of two cover
crops [Arachis Repens (L.) Handro and Desmodium Adscendens (SW.) DC.]
on the density of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soils under industrial
banana plantations in Côte d’Ivoire. European Scientific Journal,18(11),
222. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2022.v18n11p222
Russo, R., Pucci, L., Giorgetti, L., Arvay, J., Vizzarri, F., Longo, V., & Pozzo,
L. (2019). Polyphenolic characterisation of plant mixture (Lisosan(R)
Reduction) and its hypocholesterolemic effect in high fat diet-fed
mice. Natura l Product Resea rch,33(5), 651–658. https://doi.org/10.1080/
14786419.2017.1402328
Sandler, M., Carter, S. B., Hunter, K. R., & Stern, G. M. (1973). Tetrahydroiso-
quinoline alkaloids: In vivo metabolites of L-dopa in man. Nature,241,
439–443. https://doi.org/10.1038/241439a0
Santos, R., Bordest, S., & Guarim Neto, G. (2013). Aspectos históricos e
utilização do Horto Florestal Tote Garcia, Cuiabá–Mato Grosso: Uma
abordagem para a educação ambiental. Disponível http://www.ufmt.
br/revista/arquivo/rev10/aspectos_historicos_e_utilizacao.html [10.05.
2013]
Serafini, M., & Peluso, I. (2016). Functional foods for health: The inter-
related antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role of fruits, vegetables,
herbs, spices and cocoa in humans. Current Pharmaceutical Design,22(44),
6701–6715. https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612823666161123094235
Seriki, S., Odetola, A., & Adebayo, O.(2019). Analysis of phytoconstituents of
Desmodium adscendens in relation to its therapeutic properties. American
Journal of Biomedical Science & Research,2(4), 158–162.
Simioni, C., Zauli, G., Martelli, A. M., Vitale, M., Sacchetti, G., Gonelli, A.,
& Neri, L. M. (2018). Oxidative stress: Role of physical exercise and
antioxidant nutraceuticals in adulthood and aging. Oncotarget,9(24),
17181–17198. https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.24729
Tambunan, R. P., Sukoso, S., & Priatmadi, B. J. (2017). The role of ground
cover plant in soil improvement after mining activity in South Kaliman-
tan. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science,10(11),92–98.
Taylor, L. (2005). The healing power of rainforest herbs.Square One.
Thomas, D., & J. E., Sumberg (1995). A review of the evaluation and use
of tropical forage legumes in sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems
& Environment,54(3), 151–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8809(95)
00584-F
Thirunavoukkarasu, M., Balaji, U., Behera, S., Panda, P. K., & Mishra, B. K.
(2013). Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from leaf extract of Desmod-
ium gangeticum (L.) DC. and its biomedical potential. Spectrochimica Acta.
Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy,116, 424–427. https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2013.07.033
Traka,M. H., & Mithen, R. F. (2011). Plant science and human nutrition: Chal-
lenges in assessing health-promoting properties of phytochemicals. Plant
Cell,23(7), 2483–2497. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.111.087916
Vaghela, B. D.,Patel, B. R., & Pandya, P.N. (2012). A comparative pharmacog-
nostical profile of Desmodium gangeticum DC. and Desmodium laxiflorum
DC. Ayu,33(4), 552–556. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.110522
van Dooren, I., Foubert, K., Bijttebier, S., Breynaert, A., Theunis, M.,
Exarchou, V., Claeys, M., Hermans, N., Apers, S., & Pieters, L. (2018).
In vitro gastrointestinal biotransformation and characterization of a
688 MANZIONE ET AL.
Desmodium adscendens decoction: The first step in unravelling its
behaviour in the human body. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology,
70(10), 1414–1422. https://doi.org/10.1111/jphp.12978
Vasanth, S. B., & Kurian, G. A. (2017). Toxicityevaluation of silver nanoparti-
cles synthesized by chemical and green route in different experimental
models. Artificial Cells and Nanomedicine Biotechnology,45(8), 1721–
1727. https://doi.org/10.1080/21691401.2017.1282500
Wu, H., Haig, T., Pratley, J., Lemerle, D., & An, M. (2001). Allelochemicals in
wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Variation of phenolic acids in shoot tissues.
Journal of Chemical Ecology,27(1), 125–135. https://doi.org/10.1023/
a:1005676218582
Xu, K. W., Zou, L., Penttinen, P., Zeng, X., Liu, M., Zhao, K., C., Chen, Y.,
Xue Chen, & Zhang, X. (2016). Diversity and phylogeny of rhizobia
associated with Desmodium spp. in Panxi, Sichuan, China. Systematic
and Applied Microbiology,39(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.syapm.
2015.10.005
Zielinska-Pisklak, M. A., Kaliszewska, D., Stolarczyk, M., & Kiss, A. K. (2015).
Activity-guided isolation, identification and quantification of biologi-
cally active isomeric compounds from folk medicinal plant Desmodium
adscendens using high performance liquid chromatography with diode
array detector, mass spectrometry and multidimensional nuclear mag-
netic resonance spectroscopy. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical
Analysis,102, 54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpba.2014.08.033
How to cite this article: Manzione, M. G., Herrera-Bravo, J.,
Sharifi-Rad, J., Kregiel, D., Sevindik, M., Sevindik, E., Salamoglu,
Z., Zam, W., Vitalini, S., Hano, C., Kukula-Koch, W., Koch, W., &
Pezzani, R. (2022). Desmodium adscendens (Sw.) DC.: A
magnificent plant with biological and pharmacological
properties. Food Frontiers,3, 677–688.
https://doi.org/10.1002/fft2.170
... Medicinal features of plants with important nutritional features have been emphasized by many researchers [3]. Some trials have detected that some plant species preferred in experiments have biological effect such as antiaging, anticancer, antitumor, antiproliferative, DNA damage protective, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antialergic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory [4][5][6][7]. Consequently, it is very important to research plants in the discovery of new effects and new natural products. ...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: Plants are preferred for biological effect. It is a natural resource used in the field of alternative medicine due to its biological effect. In our study, the total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) and total antioxidant status (TAS) of Viola odorata L. species were detected. In addition, antimicrobial and antiproliferative effect of species was detected. Material and Method: The some parts of the species were used with the help of a soxhlet equipment, and ethanol was preferred as a solvent. TOS, OSI and TAS capacitiy were detected using Rel Assay kits. Agar dilution method was preferred to determine antimicrobial effect against bacteria and fungi. Lung cancer cell line (A549) was used to find out the antiproliferative effect by MTT assay. Result and Discussion: Consequently, the studies, the TAS capacitiy of V. odorata extract was detected as 6.752±0.139, the TOS capacitiy as 7.886±0.224 and the OSI capacitiy as 0.117±0.001. V. odorata extracts were determined to be influential against standard bacteria at 25-100 μg/ml intensiy and against fungi at 100-200 μg/ml intensiy. It was detected that the antiproliferative effect of V. odorata extract increased depending on the extract intensiy and showed strong effects. Consequently, it has been detected that V. odorata has important biological effects and in the pharmaceutical industry, it can be preferred after certain stages. ÖZ Amaç: Bitkiler birçok biyolojik aktiviteden sorumludur. Bu kapsamda tamamlayıcı tıpta önemli doğal materyallerdir. Bu çalışmada Viola odorata L. bitkisinin toplam antioksidan durumu (TAS) ve toplam oksidan durumu (TOS) ve oksidatif stress indeksi (OSI) belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca bitkinin antimikrobiyal ve antiproliferatif aktivitesi tespit edilmiştir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bitkinin toprak üstü kısımlarının etanol ile soxhlet cihazından ekstraksiyon işlemi yapılmıştır. TAS, TOS ve OSI değerleri Rel Assay kitleri kullanılarak belirlendi. Antimikrobiyal aktivite agar dilisyon metodu ile bakteri ve fungus suşlarına karşı test edilmiştir. Antiproliferatif aktivite A549 akciger kanser hücre hattına karşı MTT testi ile test edilmiştir. Sonuç ve Tartışma: Yapılan çalışmalar sonucunda bitki ekstraktının TAS değeri 6.752±0.139, TOS değeri 7.886±0.224 ve OSI değeri 0.117±0.001 olarak belirlenmiştir. Bitki özütleri standart bakterilere karşı 25-100 μg/ml, funguslara karşı 100-200 μg/ml konsantrasyonlarda etkili olduğu görülmüştür. Bitki özütünün antiproliferative aktivitesi özüt konsantrasyonuna bağlı olarak arttığı ve güçlü etkiler gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak V. odorata'nın önemli biyolojik aktivitelere sahip olduğu bu kapsamda farmakolojik ilaç dizaynlarında doğal kaynak olarak kullanılabileceği belirlenmiştir.
... Desmodium adscendens (Whole plants) has been reported to exert some biological and pharmacological activities such as antiasthmatic, neurological effects, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial (Manzione et al. 2022). Hibiscus mutabilis (Roots) has been widely used by the community as traditional medicine. ...
Article
Full-text available
Amrul HMZN, Pasaribu N, Harahap RH, Aththorick TA. 2022. Ethnobiological study of Hare, a traditional food in the Parmalim community, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 23: 6082-6088. Indonesia has a variety of traditional foods that come from different social and cultural communities. One of the tribes in North Sumatra is the Batak. In the Toba Batak community, there is a belief or religion system called Parmalim. The Parmalim community is one of the indigenous faiths in Batak, which has grown and developed over time and is embraced by the Batak. The existence of traditional food known as Hare is one of the community's traditions. The purpose of this study is to describe how Hare was made, the ingredients included, and the nature of the benefits through an ethnobotanical study. The traditional botanical knowledge was traced through a series of field observations and semi-structured interviews with eight respondents from the religious officials and experts in Parmalim using a purposive sampling technique. Based on the interviews, Hare was prepared from herbs, honey, buffalo milk, and chicken eggs. The total ingredients used in making hare were 16 ingredients consisting of 13 species of plants and three species of animals. Hare is prepared from cultivated plants such as Cocos nucifera, Citrullus lanatus, Cucumis sativus, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Musa acuminata, Oryza sativa, Kaempferia galanga, and Curcuma domestica Valeton) and wild plants such as Saurauia bracteosa, Neptunia oleracea, Desmodium adscendens, Hibiscus mutabilis, and Chrysophyllum roxburghii. At first, hare is thought to be a nutritious diet and a pregnancy stimulant for young pregnant women. Recently, the traditional dish must be preserved, one of which is by promoting this dish on the cultural and formal agenda at Toba District, North Sumatra.
... Due to the negative situations and side effects of synthetic drugs, people have turned to complementary medicine . Many previous studies have shown that plants have different activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-alergic, hepatoprotective (Yasin et al., 2017;Manzione et al., 2022). These properties of plants occur with the help of bioactive compounds in their body . ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Traditional medicine is a set of systems based on empirical knowledge used by the public as well as modern medicine. Many natural products are used in traditional medicine. Especially plants are important medicinal natural resources used in this context. Plants are unique natural materials that contain many biologically active compounds. These compounds have different properties and are non-nutritive, but have high biological activities. In this study, previous biological activity studies of Rosa canina L. plant in the literature were mentioned. In this context, many researchers around the world have reported that R. canina plant has different activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, DNA cleavage, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiobesity, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, antimutagenic, antiproliferative, acetylcholinesterase. In this context, it has been determined that the R. canina plant is responsible for many biological activities. As a result, it has been determined that the plant is an important natural material that can be used in traditional medicine.
... Due to the negative situations and side effects of synthetic drugs, people have turned to complementary medicine . Many previous studies have shown that plants have different activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antitumor, anti-aging, anti-alergic, hepatoprotective (Yasin et al., 2017;Manzione et al., 2022). These properties of plants occur with the help of bioactive compounds in their body . ...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Plants contain many bioactive compounds. These bioactive compounds are responsible for many different biological activities. The use of plants in complementary medicine is becoming increasingly common. The bioactive compounds in it highlight the use of plants in complementary medicine as a natural product. Many studies have shown that plants have many activities such as antioxidant and antimicrobial. In this study, the biological activities of species of the genus Lemna were investigated. Previous studies have been identified in the literature. As a result of the literature research, 6 Lemna species were identified as Lemna aequinoctialis Welw., Lemna disperma Hegelm., L. japonica Landolt., L. gibba L., L. minor L., L. minuta Kunth and L. perpusilla Torr. species have been determined to have biological activities. Studies have shown that 6 species have insecticidal, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. As a result, it was determined that the members of the Lemna genus had biological activities.
Preprint
Full-text available
In Ecuador, two species of Desmodium are used as traditional medicine. These are popularly known as “hierba del infante” and refer to D. adscendens and D. molliculum . The first species has a large base of information on its genetics and biological activity on which its traditional use is supported, while the second, D. molliculum , lacks this scientific information. This research aims to establish a base knowledge for the species D. molliculum : characterize the species genetically by obtaining the molecular DNA barcodes trnh-psbA , rbc L, mat K, ITS1 and ITS2, evaluate its antioxidant effect and compare it with that of D. adscendens using the in vitro techniques of Folin-Ciocalteu, ABTS, DPPH and FRAP to assess its potential medicinal effect. De novo genetic DNA barcodes were obtained for the species D. molliculum and the phylogenetic analysis separated them from those obtained from D. adscendens , indicating that the analyzed species can be discriminated by DNA barcodes. In addition, the methanolic extracts of D. molliculum contain more than double the content of total polyphenols (30.1 ± 1.1 mg GAE/g dry plant) than those of D. adscendens (13.82 ± 0.74 mg AG/g dry plant) as well as better performance in all antioxidation assays. Additionally, this research established that the defatted extract of D. molliculum has the highest antioxidant activity in the ABTS (1.16 ± 0.001 mg TE/mg) and FRAP (0.39 ± 0.01 mg TE/mg) assays.
Article
Full-text available
In this study, we performed DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis using one nuclear (ITS) and two chloroplast DNA regions (matK and rbcL) of endemic Astragalus nezaketiae A. Duran & Aytaçand Vicia alpestris Stev. subsp. hypoleuca (Boiss.) Davis taxa in Turkey. PCR reactions were performed using universal primers. Sequences of the PCR products were edited using BioEdit and FinchTV software and contigs were obtained. All contigs were Blasted at NCBI and similarities were analysed. Using the MEGA 6.0 program, maximum likelihood trees were constructed including some sequences retrieved from NCBI. For Astragalus nezaketiae; in the ITS analysis, Astragalus nezaketiae appeared separately from other species, and for matK, Astragalus nezaketiae appeared together with Astragalus cicer L. However, rbcL tree was polytomic. For Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca; in ITS, rbcL and matK results Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca were found together with Vicia cracca L., Vicia benghalensis L. and Vicia villosa Roth species. Analysis of the combined data revealed similar results with all barcode regions for Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca while different phylogenetic results were obtained for Astragalus nezaketiae.
Article
Full-text available
This study aims to evaluate the effects of two leguminous plants Arachis repens and Desmodium adscendens, used as cover crops, on the proliferation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal spores in soils under industrial banana plantations. Soil samples were collected at two depths (0-10 cm and 10-20 cm) before, 6 and 12 months after the cover crops installation in a three-treatment Fisher block design. After laboratory analysis of the collected soil samples, the results showed that A. repens strongly contributed to the increase of AM fungal spores. Indeed, before planting this legume, the average number of spores which was 882.50 at 0-10 cm of the soil, increased to 1502.50 and then to 2390.00 in 100 g of soil respectively after 6 and 12 months. At the depth of 10-20 cm, the number of spores was 790.00, 1177.50 and 1270 spores/100 g soil, respectively. Acaulospora, Gigaspora, Glomus and Scutellospora were the main genus obtained among the identified spores. Among them, Glomus and Acaulospora were the most abundant. A. repens could be used as a cover crops for the sustainable management of biological soil fertility.
Article
Full-text available
Within a plant community, variation among species in their abilities to exploit different types of soil patches can promote increased species diversity. However, it also has been suggested that some species may be disproportionately abundant along the edges between soil patches (i.e. soil microedges). We investigated the potential mechanisms whereby microedges can offer distinct ecological niches. Desmodium canadense, a tallgrass prairie species observed anecdotally to be abundant along patch edges, was grown in homogenized sandy loam (low-quality patch), clay loam (high-quality patch), or along the microedge between these two substrates, both in the presence or absence of competitors (Andropogon gerardii and Solidago juncea). Treatment effects on the biomass and root foraging strategies of D. canadense were assessed and compared to the responses of Andropogon gerardii and Solidago juncea. Although D. canadense biomass was highest in the clay loam without competition, with competition D. canadense biomass was highest along the microedge, which was a pattern not observed in A. gerardii or S. juncea. D. canadense also exhibited disproportionate root proliferation along the microedge into the clay loam patch, regardless of competitor presence. Although D. canadense biomass can be limited in both low- and high-quality soil patches, the edges between these patches allow D. canadense to avoid intense aboveground competition yet still access beneficial soil patches through lateral root foraging, thus enabling soil patch microedges to serve as a unique ecological niche.
Article
Full-text available
This study was conducted to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of silymarin on CCl4-induced oxidative stress in broiler chickens model. A total of 240 day-old broilers were divided into 4 equal groups (n = 60) composed of a control group (receiving 1 mL/Kg BW saline) and 3 groups treated with silymarin (receiving 100 mg/Kg BW silymarin), CCl4 (receiving 1 mL/Kg BW CCl4), and combination of silymarin + CCl4. Results indicated that silymarin has potential to mitigate the deleterious effects of CCl4 on protein and lipid metabolism. The protective activity of silymarin against CCl4-mediated lipid peroxidation was demonstrated by the lower serum content of MDA, as lipid peroxidation marker. CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was demonstrated by the elevation of serum contents of ALP, AST, ALT, and GGT enzymes, whereas silymarin decreased serum activity of ALP and AST hepatic enzymes. The CCl4-challenged birds revealed considerable hepatic injures characterized by moderate to severe hepatocellular degeneration around the portal vein, aggregation of inflammatory cells, granulomatosis, cytolytic necrosis, periportal space fibrosis, and sinusoidal dilatation. However, liver damages were amended by the silymarin. In line with molecular study, a remarkable down-regulation was detected in the expression of CAT, GPx, and Mn-SOD hepatic genes in CCl4-challenged birds, whereas silymarin significantly up-regulated aforementioned genes. In general, current study showed that silymarin has potential to alleviate the adverse effects of oxidative stress in poultry farms.
Article
Full-text available
Recent plastid genome (plastome) studies of legumes (family Fabaceae) have shown that this family has undergone multiple atypical plastome evolutions from each of the major clades. The tribe Desmodieae belongs to the Phaseoloids, an important but systematically puzzling clade within Fabaceae. In this study, we investigated the plastome evolution of Desmodieae and analyzed its phylogenetic signaling. We sequenced six complete plastomes from representative members of Desmodieae and from its putative sister Phaseoloid genus Mucuna. Those genomes contain 128 genes and range in size from 148,450 to 153,826 bp. Analyses of gene and intron content revealed similar characters among the members of Desmodieae and Mucuna. However, there were also several distinct characters identified. The loss of the rpl2 intron was a feature shared between Desmodieae and Mucuna, whereas the loss of the rps12 intron was specific to Desmodieae. Likewise, gene loss of rps16 was observed in Mucuna but not in Desmodieae. Substantial sequence variation of ycf4 was detected from all the sequenced plastomes, but pseudogenization was restricted to the genus Desmodium. Comparative analysis of gene order revealed a distinct plastome conformation of Desmodieae compared with other Phaseoloid legumes, i.e., an inversion of an approximately 1.5-kb gene cluster (trnD-GUC, trnY-GUA, and trnE-UUC). The inversion breakpoint suggests that this event was mediated by the recombination of an 11-bp repeat motif. A phylogenetic analysis based on the plastome-scale data set found the tribe Desmodieae is a highly supported monophyletic group nested within the paraphyletic Phaseoleae, as has been found in previous phylogenetic studies. Two subtribes (Desmodiinae and Lespedezinae) of Desmodieae were also supported as monophyletic groups. Within the subtribe Lespedezinae, Lespedeza is closer to Kummerowia than Campylotropis.
Article
Full-text available
In Africa, conventional medicines are not within the reach of everybody. High costs of classic treatment lead 82% of the patients to traditional remedies. The study was aimed at identifying and documenting these plants used in the traditional medicine of Benin. Between December 2017 and March 2018, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the markets of Cotonou, Abomey – Calavi, Porto-Novo and Pobè using a semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 100 respondents which included 91% of females and 9% of males were interviewed. These three species are involved in the treatment of 19 categories of diseases. The respondents are mostly females. It appears from this survey that the Desmodium ramosissimum is the most represented species in Benin (85%). The parts of the plant used are the stem with leaves (98%) and roots (2%). The recipes are prepared mainly by a decoction and administered orally. The price of samples sold varies from 200F cfa to 1000F cfa. The herb teas are cooked with one herb or a combination of several herbs. In terms of knowledge, information on plants was handed down from one generation to another orally through the word of mouth or without any published records. The ethnobotany survey revealed that no prohibitions or side effects are linked to the use of these plants. The three species of Desmodium occupy an important place in the therapeutic arsenal of Benin. These results constitute an essential tool for the experimental evaluation of the potentialities of these plants in order to make available for the Beninese population, new improved traditional medicines.
Article
Full-text available
Background Neoplasms of the head and neck represent approximately 5% of cancers and they require complex multidisciplinary clinical management. Desmodium adscendens (Desmodium) is a plant that possesses anti-allergic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Lithothamnium calcareum (Lithothamnium) is a calcified seaweed that possesses remineralization properties and the ability to maintain homeostasis. Aim In this single-arm study, we investigated the efficacy of a combination therapy based on Desmovit® which contains Desmodium and Lithothamnium, and chemotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods Twelve patients with histological or cytological diagnosis of stage IV head and neck cancer were enrolled in this study that was approved by the ethics committee of the Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC) di Oncologia Medica Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord and followed the Declaration of Helsinki guidelines. The patients were monitored by investigation of the performance status according to the Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which evaluates the plasma level of C-reactive protein and albumin levels, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) examination. Pain and fatigue were also monitored using the visual analog scale and visual analog fatigue scale, respectively. All the above parameters were assessed biweekly to week 10. Results GPS, ECOG, and albumin remained stable throughout the study with a trend towards a decrease in GPS and albumin at week 10 post-treatment. Pain significantly improved at week 8 (P<0.05) while fatigue improved at weeks 8 and 10 (all P<0.01). Conclusion We found that chemotherapy, combined with Desmodium and Lithothamnium, improved pain and fatigue in head and neck cancer patients, although we cannot confirm if this was due to Desmodium and Lithothamnium or chemotherapy. The improvement in pain and fatigue was supported by the ECOG performance status remaining stable with the highest score being equal to 2 throughout the study and a trend towards an improvement in GPS performance status and albumin levels.
Article
1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol, commonly known as salsolinol, is a compound derived from dopamine. It was first discovered in 1973 and has gained attention for its role in Parkinson’s disease. Salsolinol and its derivatives were claimed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease as a neurotoxin that induces apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons due to its structural similarity to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and its ability to induce Parkinsonism. In this article, we discussed the biosynthesis, distribution and blood brain barrier permeability of salsolinol. The roles of salsolinol in healthy brain, particularly the interactions with enzymes, hormone and catecholamine were reviewed. Finally, we discussed the involvement of salsolinol and its derivatives in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease.
Article
Purpose: To assess the phytochemical profile, toxicity, as well as the antioxidant, and antiulcer activities of the methanol extracts of Desmodium adscendens stem and leaf. Methods: Maceration procedure was employed in the preparation of the methanol extracts. Phytochemical characterization of the extracts was carried out according to standard methods. In vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryhyldrazy (DPPH l) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Antiulcer activity was investigated using ethanol-induced ulcer model, while toxicity was assessed by observing the mice for mortality. Results: Phytochemical analysis indicate the presence of glycosides, alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, and saponins in the stem and leaf. Methanol extracts of the plant exhibited antioxidant activity, with DPPH assay results showing median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 87.59 (leaf), 108.87 (stem), 28.52 (alpha-tocopherol), and 5.05 μg/mL (ascorbic acid). The FRAP assay results for the stem and leaf extracts were 1483 and 1953 μM Fe²⁺/g dry plant, respectively, while for ascorbic acid it was 3463 μMFe²⁺/g. The extracts showed significant antiulcer activity, with 14.27 and 15.18% ulceration inhibition for the leaf extract, and 12.31 and 13.36% for the stem extract at administered doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Cimetidine and omeprazole (standards) showed ulceration inhibition of 5.53, and 8.26% at 5.7 and 0.57 mg/kg doses, respectively. Conclusion: The methanol extracts of Desmodium adscendens stem and leaf offer significant protective activity against ethanol-induced gastric ulceration in rats, and the activity may be related to their antioxidant effect.