Cyanogenesis in Aralia spinosa (Araliaceae)

A systematic survey of Aralia spinosa (Araliaceae), covering an entire growing season and including aboveground organs at various developmental stages, revealed that only about half of all samples collected showed cyanogenesis. Cyanogenesis was detected in inflorescences and leaves but is apparently restricted to certain harvest times or developmental stages. The structurally unusual triglochinin, characterized by a hex-2-enedioic acid partial structure, was the only cyanogenic glycoside detected. This is the first description of triglochinin in this species and in the family of Araliaceae. Triglochinin is biogenetically derived from tyrosine, which is in good agreement with the few cyanogenic glycosides previously detected in members of the Araliaceae family. Triglochinin was identified, characterized, and quantified by modern chromatographic methods, and the amount of enzymatically releasable hydrocyanic acid was determined qualitatively and quantitatively. Two isomers of triglochinin were detected chromatographically at minor levels. The isomeric pattern agreed well with literature data from other triglochinin-containing plants. This was confirmed in the two species, Triglochin maritima and Thalictrum aquilegiifolium, which were comparatively studied. In the case of A. spinosa, inflorescence buds harvested in July showed the highest content of triglochinin, just under 0.2% on a dry weight basis. The detection of triglochinin adds to the knowledge of toxicological properties and the dereplication of U(H)PLC/MS² data provides a comprehensive phytochemical profile of A. spinosa.

Proximate Analysis and Phytochemical Screening of Triclisia subcordata Oliv Leaf

Proximate analysis and phytochemical screening of Triclisia subcordata Oliv leaf were investigated using standard analytical methods. Results of the proximate analysis showed contents for moisture (79.28±2.32%), ash (1.91±0.21%), crude fibre (1.83±0.13%), lipid (1.81±0.16%), crude protein (8.32±1.20%) and carbohydrate (6.91±0.74%). Phytochemical screening showed the presence of all six metabolites studied but at different concentrations. Saponin and flavonoids > alkaloids > phenol, tannin and cyanogenic glycoside. Tannins, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides and phenol gave 0.01±0.00%, 5.81±0.23%, 2.32±0.13%, 6.01±0.36%, 0.20±0.00% and 0.03±0.00%. Given observed high contents of moisture, flavonoids and saponins, moderate amounts of alkaloids and low contents of lipid, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins and phenols in Triclisia subcordata Oliv leaf, this study rationalises the medicinal use of the plant, and unveils its potential as a source of micronutrients.

Inflammation, It’s Regulation and Antiphlogistic Effect of the Cyanogenic Glycoside Amygdalin

The inflammatory reaction accompanies in part or in full any disease process in the vascularized metazoan. This complicated reaction is controlled by regulatory mechanisms, some of which produce unpleasant symptomatic manifestations of inflammation. Therefore, there has been an effort to develop selective drugs aimed at removing pain, fever, or swelling. Gradually, however, serious adverse side effects of such inhibitors became apparent. Scientific research has therefore continued to explore new possibilities, including naturally available substances. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside present, e.g., in bitter almonds. This glycoside has already sparked many discussions among scientists, especially about its anticancer potential and related toxic cyanides. However, toxicity at different doses made it generally unacceptable. Although amygdalin given at the correct oral dose may not lead to poisoning, it has not yet been accurately quantified, as its action is often affected by different intestinal microbial consortia. Its pharmacological activities have been studied, but its effects on the body’s inflammatory response are lacking. This review discusses the chemical structure, toxicity, and current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of amygdalin activity on immune functions, including the anti-inflammatory effect, but also discusses inflammation as such, its mediators with diverse functions, which are usually targeted by drugs.

Comparative Study of Proximate and Phytochemical Analysis of the Roots of Justicia carnea Lindi. and Justicia secunda Vahl

Proximate and phytochemical analyses of the root extracts of Justicia carnea and Justicia secunda in the Acanthaceae family were investigated using standard procedures and compared. The result of the proximate analysis indicated that the roots of both species contain nutrients in varying levels. Protein (11.38±0.01), lipid (4.81±0.01) and moisture content (17.01±0.01) were higher in the roots of J. carnea than in J. secunda (8.32±0.01, 2.01±0.01, 11.22±0.02) respectively, while Carbohydrate (6.62±0.00), Ash (16.75±0.05) and Fibre (55.18±0.01) were higher in J. secunda than in J. carnea (4.73±0.02, 9.81±0.01, and 52.29±0.00) respectively. Qualitative phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannin, flavonoid, alkaloids, saponin, phytate and cyanogenic glycosides whereas the result for the quantitative analysis showed that the quantity of phytochemicals in Justicia carnea and Justicia secunda were: tannin (46.75±0.00 and 41.01±0.01), flavonoid (2.72±0.01 and 3.21±0.00), alkaloid (10.16±0.00 and 11.21±0.01), saponin (3.31±0.01 and 2.7±0.00), phytate (30.54±0.01 and 33.86±0.00) and cyanogenic glycoside (100.01±0.00 and 500±0.00) respectively. Justicia carnea contained higher quantity of tannin and saponin while Justicia secunda contained higher amount of flavonoid, alkanoid, phytate and cyanogenic glycoside. These results conceivably indicated that the two species are good sources of essential nutrients which could be used in diets to supplement the daily nutrient needs in humans and animals, and phyto-nutrients which possess strong pharmacological activities, providing scientific credence for its therapeutic usage in folklore medicine.

Determination of Heavy Metals and Anti – Nutrients in Cow Meat Sold in Minna, Major Markets

Introduction: Meat is a major source of protein for the urban – population, but it could be susceptible to contamination by heavy metals, heavy metals and anti - nutrients pose a serious threat to human well being due to thier toxicity and chelating activity, this call for the need to determine thier level in meat which is one of our daily food. Objectives: This study is designed to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (Lead, Chromium, Cupper, Cadmium, and Zinc) and anti-nutrients (Phytate, Oxalate and cyanogenic glycoside) in cow meat sold in different locations in Minna, Niger State. Method: A total of 12 beef samples were bought from beef outlet in 4 major markets in Minna namely Bosso Market, Kure Market, Mobil Market, and Tunga Market. The level of the heavy metals were assayed using Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry (AAS) while that of anti – nutrients were determined using standard analytical methods. Results: Show that the concentration of Lead is highest across all locations while that of Zinc is the lowest across all locations. The order of the level of heavy metal concentration across the locations are Pb > Cd = Cu >Cr > Zn. Lead (Pb) concentrations across the four markets are 6.340±1.3562µg/g, 6.766±0.3684µg/g, 6.057±1.2097µg/g, 3.716±0.247µg/g respectively, while that of zinc are 0.310±0.0061µg/g, 0.304±0.0023µg/g, 0.298±0.0227µg/g, 0.299±0.0180µg/g respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study indicate that heavy metal toxicity could result from the consumption of cow meat from these study areas.

Activation and detoxification of cassava cyanogenic glucosides by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci

Two-component plant defenses such as cyanogenic glucosides are produced by many plant species, but phloem-feeding herbivores have long been thought not to activate these defenses due to their mode of feeding, which causes only minimal tissue damage. Here, however, we report that cyanogenic glycoside defenses from cassava (Manihot esculenta), a major staple crop in Africa, are activated during feeding by a pest insect, the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, and the resulting hydrogen cyanide is detoxified by conversion to beta-cyanoalanine. Additionally, B. tabaci was found to utilize two metabolic mechanisms to detoxify cyanogenic glucosides by conversion to non-activatable derivatives. First, the cyanogenic glycoside linamarin was glucosylated 1–4 times in succession in a reaction catalyzed by two B. tabaci glycoside hydrolase family 13 enzymes in vitro utilizing sucrose as a co-substrate. Second, both linamarin and the glucosylated linamarin derivatives were phosphorylated. Both phosphorylation and glucosidation of linamarin render this plant pro-toxin inert to the activating plant enzyme linamarase, and thus these metabolic transformations can be considered pre-emptive detoxification strategies to avoid cyanogenesis.

An Efficient Method for the Isolation of Toxins from Pteridium aquilinum and Evaluation of Ptaquiloside Against Cancer and Non-cancer Cells

The common fern, bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), is well known for its toxic effects on livestock due principally to the carcinogenic constituent ptaquiloside (1), although other toxins are present including the cyanogenic glycoside, prunasin (2). Here, we report an improved and relatively “green” process for the isolation of 1 and 2 from fresh bracken fronds and the evaluation of 1 for cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines. The results indicate that 1 displays selective toxicity against cancer cells relative to noncancer retinal epithelial cells, and the improved method for the isolation of 1 is expected to facilitate further exploration of its pharmacological properties.

Amygdalin: Toxicity, Anticancer Activity and Analytical Procedures for Its Determination in Plant Seeds

Amygdalin (d-Mandelonitrile 6-O-β-d-glucosido-β-d-glucoside) is a natural cyanogenic glycoside occurring in the seeds of some edible plants, such as bitter almonds and peaches. It is a medically interesting but controversial compound as it has anticancer activity on one hand and can be toxic via enzymatic degradation and production of hydrogen cyanide on the other hand. Despite numerous contributions on cancer cell lines, the clinical evidence for the anticancer activity of amygdalin is not fully confirmed. Moreover, high dose exposures to amygdalin can produce cyanide toxicity. The aim of this review is to present the current state of knowledge on the sources, toxicity and anticancer properties of amygdalin, and analytical methods for its determination in plant seeds.

Cyanogenic glycosides can function as nitrogen reservoir for flax plants cultured under N-deficient conditions

Soil nitrogen (N) deficiency is a common phenomenon that plagues both naturally growing plants as well as agricultural crops, ultimately affecting their growth and productivity. The aim of our study is to determine the effect of short-term N deprivation on secondary metabolites production in developing and mature leaves of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.). Two weeks under low-N conditions decrease plant growth, N concentration, and soluble proteins content in leaves. Reduction in photosynthesis intensity was also observed. A decrease of cyanogenic glycoside content under N-deficient conditions was most visible in mature leaves. However, the content of linamarin and lotaustralin was about 10-fold higher in younger than in mature leaves, in which play probably protective role due to the possibility of toxic HCN release. Despite the N deficit, flax plants accumulated nitrogen in cyanoglycosides. N from cyanoglycosides can be used to synthesise amino acids; this possibility is supported by the high activity of β-cyanoalanine synthase, especially in N-deficient leaves. On the other hand, the content of different types of phenolic compounds increased in N-deficient plants, especially in young leaves, possibly replacing cyanoglucosides in protective functions. Our results indicated that cyanogenic glycosides could be an important nitrogen source for flax plants grown under temporary N-deficient conditions.