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Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Plectranthus rugosus extract and fractions: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches

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Abstract

Background

Inflammation is a key biological reaction that comprises a complex network of signals that both initiate and stop the inflammation process.

Purpose

This study targets to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the leaves of the Plectranthus rugosus (P. rugosus) plant involving both in vitro and in vivo measures. The current available drugs exhibit serious side effects. Traditional medicines impart an essential role in drug development. P. rugosus is a plant used in traditional medicine of Tropical Africa, China, and Australia to treat various diseases.

Methods

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin, kindles macrophages to discharge huge quantities of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-6. So, clampdown of macrophage stimulation may have a beneficial potential to treat various inflammatory disorders. The leaves of the P. rugosus are used for swelling purpose by local population; however, its use as an anti-inflammatory agent and associated disorders has no scientific evidence.

Results

The extracts of the plant Plectranthus rugosus ethanolic extract (PREE), Plectranthus rugosus ethyl acetate extract (PREAF), and the compound isolated (oleanolic acid) suppress the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO), confirming its importance in traditional medicine.

Conclusion

The pro-inflammatory cytokines are inhibited by P. rugosus extracts, as well as an isolated compound oleanolic acid without compromising cell viability.

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Data availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this article.

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Acknowledgements

Lamya Ahmed Al-Keridis extends her appreciation to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project Number (PNURSP2024R82), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This work is supported by Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Researchers Supporting Project Number (PNURSP2024R82), Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmaceutical Chemistry Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar-190006, Hazratbal, Kashmir, India

    Reyaz Hassan Mir & Mubashir Hussain Masoodi

  2. Department of General Medicine, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, 190001, India

    Roohi Mohi-ud-din

  3. Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Lamya Ahmed Al-Keridis

  4. Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Integrative Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea

    Bilal Ahmad

  5. Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Ha’il, P.O. Box 2440, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia

    Nawaf Alshammari & Mohd Adnan

  6. Research and Development Cell, Department of Biotechnology, Parul Institute of Applied Sciences, Parul University, Vadodara, 391760, India

    Mitesh Patel

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  1. Reyaz Hassan Mir
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Contributions

RHM and MHM contributed to study concept and design, collected/analyzed data, performed project administration, and drafted the original manuscript. RM-ud-d, LAAl-K, BA, NA, MP, and MA contributed to methodology, data curation, investigation, visualization, analysis, review, and editing; RHM, MA, MHM, and RM-ud-d contributed to critical revision of the manuscript, methodology, validation, formal analysis, and study supervision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Reyaz Hassan Mir or Mubashir Hussain Masoodi.

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The protocol for the experiment was approved by the Institutional Animal ethics committee (Registration No. 801/GO/Re/2003/CPCSEA), University of Kashmir, India.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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Mir, R.H., Mohi-ud-din, R., Al-Keridis, L.A. et al. Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Plectranthus rugosus extract and fractions: in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. Inflammopharmacol 32, 1593–1606 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-023-01419-2

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