Plant Extracts and their Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Kinases

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1093-1104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shoaib Ali Gill ◽  
Hammad Saleem ◽  
Nafees Ahemad

Natural Products (NP), specifically from medicinal plants or herbs, have been extensively utilized to analyze the fundamental mechanisms of ultimate natural sciences as well as therapeutics. Isolation of secondary metabolites from these sources and their respective biological properties, along with their lower toxicities and cost-effectiveness, make them a significant research focus for drug discovery. In recent times, there has been a considerable focus on isolating new chemical entities from natural flora to meet the immense demand for kinase modulators, and also to overcome major unmet medical challenges in relation to signal transduction pathways. The signal transduction systems are amongst the foremost pathways involved in the maintenance of life and protein kinases play an imperative part in these signaling pathways. It is important to find a kinase inhibitor, as it can be used not only to study cell biology but can also be used as a drug candidate for cancer and metabolic disorders. A number of plant extracts and their isolated secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids have exhibited activities against various kinases. In the current review, we have presented a brief overview of some important classes of plant secondary metabolites as kinase modulators. Moreover, a number of phytocompounds with kinase inhibition potential, isolated from different plant species, are also discussed.

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 175 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. N. Kamra ◽  
A. K. Patra ◽  
P. N. Chatterjee ◽  
Ravindra Kumar ◽  
Neeta Agarwal ◽  
...  

Plants rich in secondary metabolites (saponins, tannins, essential oils, etc.) have antimicrobial activity which can be exploited for selective inhibition of a particular group of microbes in the rumen. We have screened a large number of plant extracts for their potential to inhibit methanogenesis and ciliate protozoa in an in vitro gas production test using buffalo rumen liquor as the inoculum. Out of 93 plant extracts tested, 11 inhibited in vitro methanogenesis to the extent of 25–50% and nine plant extracts inhibited methanogenesis more than 50%. Among 20 extracts exhibiting antimethanogenic activity, nine were ethanol extracts, 10 were methanol extracts and only one was a water extract. Some of these plant extracts inhibited ciliate protozoa as tested by microscopic examination and 14C-labelled radioisotopic technique, but the protozoa inhibition was not correlated with methane inhibition, indicating that the methanogens sensitive to plant secondary metabolites may or may not be having any symbiotic relationship with ciliate protozoa. Methane inhibition was accompanied by a drastic fall in the number of methanogens as determined by real time PCR. Plants that appeared to have some potential as feed additives to control methanogenesis by the ruminants are: (i) seed pulp of Sapindus mukorossi (rich in saponins) and Terminalia chebula (rich in tannins); (ii) leaves of Populus deltoides, Mangifera indica and Psidium guajava (rich in tannins and essential oils); and (iii) flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum and bulb of Allium sativum (rich in essential oils). Some of the plants reported in literature exhibiting antimethanogenic activity include Equisetum arvense, Lotus corniculatus, Rheum palmatum, Salvia officinalis, Sapindus saponaria, Uncaria gambir and Yucca schidigera.


Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (5) ◽  
pp. 628-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. KOTZE ◽  
E. N. ZADOW ◽  
P. E. VERCOE ◽  
N. PHILLIPS ◽  
A. TOOVEY ◽  
...  

SUMMARYAs Rhagodia preissii had shown significant in vitro anthelmintic activity in a previous study, we examined the effect of including this shrub in the diet of sheep infected with Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Worm-infected merino wethers were grazed for 7 weeks on either R. preissii or annual pasture, and faecal egg counts (FECs) were conducted weekly. Plant material was collected weekly from eaten and uneaten plants, and analysed for levels of plant secondary metabolites (tannins, oxalates, saponins) and in vitro anthelmintic activity. While mean FECs were consistently lower in sheep grazing R. preissii compared to pasture (reductions of 20–74%), the differences were not significant. There was no relationship between grazing preference (eaten or uneaten) and in vitro anthelmintic activity of plant extracts. The levels of saponins and oxalates did not correlate with grazing preference or in vitro anthelmintic activity, while tannins were not responsible for the anthelmintic activity. While the identity of the grazing deterrent and in vitro anthelmintic compounds remain unknown, the presence of plants which were both highly preferred by the sheep and showed in vitro anthelmintic activity indicates a potential to develop the species as an anthelmintic shrub through selection of shrub populations dominated by such plants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 489-497
Author(s):  
Halima Isah Abdullahi ◽  
Muhammad Yusha'u

This study was carried out to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of Dichrostachys cinerea extracts against some isolates of dermatophytic fungi. The powdered plant materials were extracted via soxhlet extraction technique using methanol, dichloromethane and petroleum ether as extraction solvents. The extracts were subjected to phytochemical screening for qualitative detection of plant secondary metabolites. The extracts were further tested for antifungal activity against human isolates of Microsporum canis, Trichophyton terrestre, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton verrucosum. The results of phytochemical screening showed the presence of some secondary metabolites including; alkaloids, tannins, saponins, glycosides and steroid. Antifungal activity testing indicated that all the extracts were active against the isolates tested with the exception of T. verrucosum. Pet ether extracts showed the least activity as reflected in the zone of inhibition (24 mm at 50 mg/ml), against the isolates compared to methanol (30 mm at 25 mg/ml) and dichloromethane (30 mm at 50 mg/ml) extracts. The findings of this study, indicated that the plant is a potential for the drug candidate for the treatment of dermatophytic diseases and support the claim for their traditional use against skin diseases


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