Medicinal & Aromatic Plants
Open Access
ISSN: 2167-0412
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2167-0412
+44 1300 500008
Mini Review - (2014) Volume 3, Issue 4
Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack belongs to the family Rutaceae and is mostly distributed throughout South Asia
to Australia. Many pharmacological effects of the plant have been reported, and range from antinociceptive,
antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial to analgesic activities. A wide range of different compounds consisting of coumarins, alkaloids, phenols, terpenoids and flavonoids have been identified from different parts of the plant and have been evaluated for various biological activities. The aim of this review is to cover the biological activities and the active compounds derived from M. paniculata to provide more insights and spur further investigations that would lead to production of more effective and economical alternative medicine from the plant.
Keywords: Murraya paniculata, Chemical constituents, Biological activities
Murraya is a genus of flowering plants, closely related to citrus. It is in the subtribe Clauseninae, which are known technically as the remote citroid fruit trees. Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack, commonly known as Orange Jessamine, is a tropical, evergreen plant with tiny, white, scented flowers, which is cultivated as an ornamental tree or hedge (Figure 1). It belongs to the family Rutaceae and can be commonly found in South Asia and Australia. Various parts of this plant have been used in traditional medicine. In BangladeshM. paniculata leaves extract is orally used to alleviate pain [1]. In the Philippines, leaves were also used to treat diarrhea and dysentery because of their stimulant and astringent activities [2]. In India, people sometimes used root bark ofM. paniculata as remedy for coughs, hysteria and rheumatism [3]. Furthermore, cooked leaves and boiled twigs applied to assuage inflamed joints and stomachache respectively in India [4].
Figure 1: The morphology of Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack.
There are many reports on pharmacological effects of the plant including antinociceptive [1,5], antioxidant [6,7] and anti-diabetic [4], to antimicrobial [4] and analgesic activities [8]. Several research groups have reported isolation of effective substances like alkaloids [9], phenols [4], terpenoids [10] and flavonoids [4,11-13] from leaves, fruits, flowers and root barks ofM. paniculata as health remedy. In view of the importance of M. paniculata, we describe its antinociceptive, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, antimicrobial and analgesic properties.
M. paniculata has been investigated for its bioactive compounds by many research groups. To date, various compounds were identified, ranging from indole alkaloids, coumarins, phenols, terpenoids to flavonoids. Besides, 60 compounds have been identified from volatile and essential oil extracted fromM. paniculata leaves. The chemical components from different parts ofM. paniculata were identified using chromatographic techniques and the structures were elucidated using spectroscopic techniques. A number of these compounds exhibited significant biological activities, which serve as the scientific evidence for the traditional usage of M. paniculata.
In 1986, an anti-implantation alkaloid, called Yuehcukene, 1β-(3,- indolyl-7,9α,9β-trimethyl-5β,8,9,10β-tetrahydroindano-[2,3-b] indole was also isolated fromM. paniculata leaves [14]. Moreover, the two indole alkaloids, murrayacarine [15] and murrayaculatine [16] were isolated from root bark and flowers ofM. paniculata respectively.
In early 1980s, different research groups isolated 3’,4’,5,5’,7,8-hexamethoxyflavone (Figure 2a) and 3,3’, 4’,5,5’,7,8-heptamethoxyflavone (Figure 2b) from the methanolic extract ofM. paniculata leaves [17,18]. Later, a flavone named 3,5,7,3’,4’,5’- hexamethoxyflavone, was isolated fromM. paniculata flower [16]. Other research groups isolated eight flavonoids fromM. paniculata leaves [12,19] and ten flavonoids from the peel and pulp of the fruits of the plant [20].
Figure 2: Chemical structure of major compounds identified in Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack.
Furthermore, three coumarins known as meranzin hydrate (Figure 2c), murpanidin (Figure 2d) and murragatin (Figure 2e) were isolated fromM. paniculata leaves extract [18]. Other coumarins including 3-formylindole,omphalocar-pin,5,7-dimethoxy-8-(3’-methyl-2’- oxobuty coumarin, coumurrayin, murragleinin, omphamurin, murraol, (-)- murracarpin, (±)-murracarpin, mupanidin, mexoticin, murrangatin, and ferulyl esters were also isolated from M. paniculata root bark [15]. While from the fresh flowers of this plant, yuehgesin-A, yuehgesin-B, yuehgesin-C, and 22 compounds were characterized [21]. Besides nine coumarins, omphamurrayone, murralongin, isomurralonginol isovalerate, murrangatin, minumicrolin (murpanidin), coumurrayin, toddalenone, auraptene and toddasin were also identified fromM. paniculata leaves acetone extract [22] and methyl 2,5-dihydroxycinnamate and murrayatin from methanolic extract [23].
As mentioned, 60 compounds have been aslo identified from volatile and essential oil extracted fromM. paniculata leaves. The major components were t-caryophyllene (Figure 2f), γ-elemene (Figure 2g), perolidol, β-elemene (Figure 2h), spathulenol (Figure 2i), caryophyllene oxide (Figure 2j), β-caryophyllene, germacrene D (Figure 2k) and 4-methylene-6-(1-propenylidene)-cyclooctene (Figure 2l) [10,24,25].
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural products of oxygen metabolism in biological systems which comprise in energy production, defense mechanism against infection and phagocytosis [26,27]. However, catastrophic biological oxidation can be observed while the production of ROS is enhancing. When cells have been exposed to excess ROS, some of the oxidative conversions like DNA affliction, lipid peroxidation and enzyme inactivation cause detrimental modification in cell function [27-29].
In recent years the utilization of substances from natural sources with antioxidant properties have been boosted because the preservation toward multitudinous disease [30-32]. Some problems concerning the conservation and toxicity of synthetic antioxidants lead to contributing more investigations on natural antioxidants derived from plant sources. Strong potential of plant antioxidants make them a crucial area of research [30-34]. Some plant source antioxidants are beta-carotene, selenium (Se) and flavonoids including flavanols, flavanones, flavones, iso-flavones, catechins, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins [27].
Zhang et al. (2011) reported the antioxidant property of M. paniculata for the first time [7]. They detected seventy polymethoxylated flavonoids (PMFs) in the leaves extract and thirty nine PMFs in the branches extract ofM. paniculata (Table 1) [35]. PMFs include a particular group of flavonoids responsible for numerous biological properties including antioxidant activity [36].
| Identified PMFs in the leaves | Identified PMFs in the branches |
|---|---|
| Dihydroxy-dimethoxyflavone | Heptamethoxyflavone |
| Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone | Trihydroxy-dimethoxyflavone glycoside |
| Trihydroxy-dimethoxyflavone | Tetrahydroxy-dihydroxyflavone glycoside |
| Tetramethoxyflavone | Monohydroxy-dimethoxyflavone glycoside |
| Dihydroxy-trimethoxyflavone | Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone glycoside |
| Tetramethoxyflavanone or Tetramethoxychalcone |
Heptamethoxyflavanone or Heptamethoxychalcone |
| Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone | Monohydroxy-tetramethoxyflavone glycoside |
| Monohydroxy-tetramethoxyflavanone or Monohydroxy-tetramethoxychalcone |
Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavanone or Monohydroxy-trimethoxychalcone |
| Trihydroxy-trimethoxyflavone | Monohydroxy-pentamethoxyflavone |
| Pentamethoxyflavone | Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone |
| Pentamethoxyflavanone or Pentamethoxychalcone |
Pentamethoxyflavanone or Pentamethoxychalcone |
| Dihydroxy-tetrahydroxyflavone | Monohydroxy-trimethoxyflavone |
| Monohydroxy-pentamethoxyflavone | Pentamethoxyflavone |
| Monohydroxy-pentamethoxy or Monohydroxy-pentamethoxychalcone |
Hexamethoxyflavanone or Hexamethoxychalcone |
| Trihydroxy-tetramethoxyflavone | Tetramethoxyflavone |
| Hexamethoxyflavone | Hexamethoxyflavonem |
| Hexamethoxychalcone | Dihydroxy-dimethoxyflavone |
| Monohydroxy-hexamethoxyflavanone or Monohydroxy-hexamethoxychalcone |
Tetramethoxyflavanone or Tetramethoxychalcone |
| Monohydroxy-hexamethoxyflavone | Heptamethoxyflavone |
Table 1: Polymethoxylated flavonoids (PMFs) detected in Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack.
In 2005, Rohman and Sugeng reported significant antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract ofM. paniculata leaves in linoleicthiocyanate and 2,2-diphenyl-l-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) methods [6]. They showed that the IC50 ofM. paniculata leaves extract is 126.17μg/ mL whereas, the IC50 of vitamin E the positive control is 8.27μg/mL. Furthermore, Chen et al. (2009) found that the 500μg/mL acetone extract ofM. paniculata leaves displayed 72% inhibitory effect towards tyrosinase activity [37]. Besides, the 100μg/mL extract was able to inhibit 62% of lipoxygenase (LOX) and 10% of xanthine oxidase (XO) activities.
In 2011, Shaikh et al. isolated the secondary metabolite 2’-O-ethylmurrangatin from the leaves ofM. paniculata by using spectroscopic techniques [38]. They found its significant activity towards lipoxygenase. 2’-O-ethylmurrangatin displayed the IC50 of 28.1 (mM) which was more than the IC50 of baicalein the positive control 22.7 (mM). In 2012, Gautam et al. reported that antioxidants significantly increased in Sprague-Dawley rats after 14 days oral administration of ethanol extract ofM. paniculata leaves [4]. They found administration of 100, 200 and 400mg/kg ofM. paniculata leaves extract increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) from 80.43 to 109.31 U/mg protein, catalase (CAT) from 36.17 to 59.18 U/mg protein and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) from 1.51 to 2.12 U/mg protein. They mentioned antioxidant activity ofM. paniculata leaves extract is due to presence of alkaloids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds [4].
The results obtained in these in vitro and in vivo studies clearly demonstrate the high potential ofM. paniculata as a source of natural antioxidants. Further investigations are still required to confirm the antioxidant activity of the compounds and also to go through detailed mechanism of their activity.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder caused by direct or indirect insulin inadequacy. Stimulation of glucose uptake into muscles and adipocytes determined by blood glucose level is under insulin control [39,40]. The glucose transporter Glut 4 can transport glucose from intra cellular pool to the plasma membrane in muscles and adipose tissues [41]. The glucose uptake can be measured by a fluorescent analogue of D-glucose, 2-[N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3- diazol-4-yl)amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-NBDG) [42,43]. Another vital mechanism which assures glucose hemostasis is insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells [44]. Inordinate insulin secretion may cause life menacing hypoglycaemia hence, deficient secretion influence perceptive or chronic damaging lead to DM [45]. Furthermore, hypoglycemic agents like alpha glycosidase inhibitors and sulphonylure as found in some medicinal plants extracts are considerable compounds for the treatment of DM type 2 by stimulating insulin secretion [46-48].
In 2012 Gautam et al. reported that oral administration of M. paniculata leaves extract included hypoglycemic agents such as sulfonylures significantly declined the glucose level in diabetic Sprague- Dawley rats. They showed 400 mg/kg ofM. paniculata leaves extract significantly reduced the glucose level (62.52 mg/mL) in diabetic rats compared to normal control group (94.78 mg/mL). In addition, they mentionedM. paniculata leaves extract can augment β-cell structure, cell membrane and nucleus in pancreas. Hypoglycemic action can be potentiating the insulin by enhancing the pancreatic secretion of it from β-cells of Langerhans islets or emancipating insulin from the bound form. Other studies showed that flavonoids in theM. paniculata leaves extract such as 5,7,3’,4’-tetramethoxy-flavone, 5,7,3’,4’,5’-pentamethoxyflavone, 5,6,7,3’,4’-pentamethoxy-flavone, 5,6,7,3’,4’,5’-hexamethoxy -flavone, and 7-hydroxy-5,3’, 4’-trimethoxy-flavone [49]. In 2009, Yongri et al. reported that the flavonoids inM. paniculata leaves extract evidently diminished the blood sugar level in ICR mice by increasing the insulin content and ameliorating the islet β-cells secretion index. However, the insulin resistance index significantly decreased [50]. Taken together, these in vivo results clarify thatM. paniculata leaves extract could have eminent therapeutic effect on the Diabetes Mellitus (DM).
Various antimicrobial agents, either synthtic or natural, are employed against pathogenic microbes to reduce the risks of common infections [51]. The repeated or continued use of antibiotics had led to widespread antimicrobial resistance [52]. On one hand there are serious infections that need to be cured using antibiotics and on the other hand the side effects of available commercial drugs, highlight the urgent demand for investigation on antimicrobial activities of natural antimicrobial compounds.
Plant extracts have shown to be a potential source of the novel antimicrobial agents [53]. However, as Plants produce bioactive compounds for their defense mechanisms which can be toxic in nature [54], not only the antimicrobial properties of the plant extract but possible toxicity should also be considered for their safety/safe use.
M. paniculata extract has been traditionally used as an antimicrobial medication and is believed to demonstrate significant antimicrobial activities [4,55]. The leaves extract has been reported to be safe in its oral effective dose as it did not indicate toxicity when tested on rodents [4]. According to the research conducted on 50% ethanolic leaves extract of M. paniculata, acute oral administration of M. paniculata extract (2000 mg kg-1, single dose) did not cause any mortality, CNS and ANS toxicities in rats.
The extract ofM. paniculata leaves revealed the presence of alkaloids, flovonoids, phenolic compounds, which are all reported to have growth inhibition against gram positive and gram negative bacteria [4].
One of the mechanisms of phenolic compounds, that are known to possess antimicrobial activity, is by causing the leakage of cytoplasmic constituents such as protein, glutamate or potassium and phosphate from bacteria, which may occur as the result of disruption of cell peptidoglycan or damage of the cell membrane [56]. Flavonoids which are classified under phenolic groups have also demonstrated antimicrobial activity by inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis, cytoplasmic membrane function, and energy metabolism [57].
According to the research by Gautam et al., total phenolic and flavonoid content of different leaves extract ofM. paniculata including petroleumether extract, methanolic extract, ethanolic extract and hydroalcoholic extract were studied for their antibacterial activities [4]. At a concentration of 200mg/mL the inhibition zone of ethanolic extract and hydro-alcoholic extract tested on several human pathogenic bacteria, including E. coil, K. pneumoniae, S. typhi, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, S. flexinerrii, S. aureus and S. sonneii showed mild to moderate activity of 8-11mm. Petroleumether extracts indicated 8-12 mm of inhibition zone and the methanolic extract had highest antibacterial activity of 9-14 mm among other compound [4].
Scientific exploration of new pain relieving herbal drugs with minimum side effects are in high demand [58]. Oral administration of M. paniculata leaves extract was used in traditional medicine in many places of Bangladesh for abatement of pain [1,59]. According to the study conducted by Podder et al., analgesic activity of M. paniculata bark extract has been practically proven [8]. They applied a method to indicate antinociceptive activity by testing the inhibitory ability of the sample against acetic acid induced writhing [60]. In their investigation, M. Panuculata bark extract was administered to mice at an oral dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight. At the given doses, the extract indicated 37 (p<0.001) and 45% (p<0.001) inhibition of writhing respectively by reducing the frequency of acetic acid. Besides, the 19% (p<0.05) elongation of flicking time after 120 min was also observed [8]. This study concurred with the previous investigation by Chevallier (1996), indicating significant analgesic effect ofM. paniculata bark extract in albino mice [61].
In 2009, Sharker et al. used a similar method to measure the antinociceptive activity ofM. paniculata leaves ethanol extract [1]. They injected the 0.7% of acetic acid solution to the Swiss albino mice and then oral administration of 250 and 500 mg/kg of M. paniculata leaves extract produced significant antinociceptive activity of 26.27 and 66.67 writhing inhibitory percentage in mice in a dose dependent manner. In addition, Narkhede et al. reported oral administration of ethanol extract ofM. paniculata leaves at the doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg significantly inhibited the writhing at the rate of 28.84%, 54.93% and 67.91%, respectively in Swiss albino mice, which has been intraperitoneally administrated with acetic acid [5]. On the basis of these results it can be suggested thatM. paniculata bark and leaves extracts might possess analgesic and antinociceptive activity. Besides, according to Sharker et al.,M. paniculata extract indicated cytotoxic effects and it has to be taken into consideration as well [1].
The major compound found inM. paniculata oil, (E)-caryophyllene, was found to posses cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 (IC50= 31.6 μg/mL) and Hs 578T (IC50= 78.3 g/mL) human tumor cells [62].
As there are few studies on anticancer properties of M. paniculata, having a comparison of its chemical constituents with other plant extracts that have shown significant cytotoxic effects, might be useful as a clue for further investigations. A plant extract that is comparable to M. paniculata, is Juniperus phoenicea leaves and berries extract which is rich in the same Monoterpene hydrocarbons (e.g. Sabinene) that are also found inM. paniculata [24]. J. phoenicea extract has indicated significant cytotoxic activity against U251, HeLa, H460, HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines.
Valko et al. investigated cytotoxic effect of water extracts from leaves and branches of Philadelphus coronaries L. (Hydrangeaceae) against A431 (human skin carcinoma cell line) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line), where both extracts from the leaves and branches showed significant cytotoxic effects against the two cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicity of these extracts might be due to the presences of umbelliferone and scopolin, two coumarins that were also found inM. paniculata extract [21].
Different medicinal potentials ofM. paniculata in various diseases have been reported by many investigators. However, there is a definite requirement of more detailed studies on the mechanisms of these properties. The current state of research onM. paniculata implicates great potential of the isolated bioactive compounds in treating diseases. With the advancement in medicinal chemistry and bioinformatics, the ethnomedicinal usage ofM. paniculata can be scientifically explained and proved through in vitro or in vivo studies and may consequently be developed as potential plant-based drugs.