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Morphology of Volkameria inermis
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The present investigation aimed to study the genomic characterization and free radical scavenging potential of a traditional plant Volkameria inermis. A chloroplast genome rbcL was used in molecular characterization and it revealed the phylogeny and evolutionary affinities of V. inermis with the outgroups of the family through BLAST search based on...
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... The antioxidant property of V. aculeata essential oil could be attributed to either the predominance of phytol or synergistic interactions of diterpenes and/or oxygenated sesquiterpenes present in it [19][20]. Though the antioxidant capacity of the extracts of V. aculeata has not yet been evaluated, the hexane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts of some other species of the genus namely, V. inermis and V. glabra have exhibited potent antioxidant activities, which has been attributed to their high phenolic and flavonoid contents [21][22][23]. Due to the presence of several beneficial phytoconstituents and significant antioxidant activity, the leaf oil of Volkameria aculeata may prove to be a promising biological resource for pharmacological applications. ...
The chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the leaf essential oil of Volkameria aculeata L. [syn. Clerodendrum aculeatum (L.) Schltdl.], popularly known as Prickly Glorybower or Prayer berry, is reported here for the first time. GC-MS analysis of essential oil revealed the presence of 42 identified compounds, which accounted for 90.55% of the total leaf oil. The leaf essential oil of V. aculeata is principally composed of diterpenes (29.78%), followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (20.98%), fatty acid (10.35%) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (9.75%). The major volatile constituents of the essential oil were phytol (29.78%), linoleic acid (5.74%), β-cubebene (5.65%), hexadecanoic acid (4.61%), myristicin (3.85%), and (E)-nerolidol (3.72%).
The antioxidant potential of the essential oil was evaluated using DPPH and ABTS assays. Ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as positive controls in the study. With an IC50 value of 32.8 ± 0.91 mg/mL, the leaf essential oil exhibited considerable DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to ascorbic acid (7.8 ± 0.17 μg/mL) and butylated hydroxytoluene (33.5 ± 0.39 μg/mL). Similarly, the essential oil exhibited moderate scavenging action in the ABTS assay having an IC50 value of 5.3 ± 0.52 mg/mL, when compared to the positive controls, ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene, which had IC50 values of 3.4 ± 0.23 μg/mL and 18.3 ± 0.74 μg/mL, respectively.
Due to the presence of several beneficial phytoconstituents and significant antioxidant
activity, the leaf oil of Volkameria aculeata may prove to be a promising biological resource for pharmacological applications.
Clerodendrum inerme (L.) Gaertn., commonly known as garden quinine, is a perennial shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It has been extensively used in various traditional medicinal practices to treat ailments such as rheumatic pain, arthritis, scrofulous, venereal disease, skin diseases, wounds, fever, cough, dysentery, and more. This review aims to critically examine a comprehensive compilation of recent research on C. inerme, encompassing its botanical characteristics, ethnomedical applications, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity, and toxicological data, in order to provide insights and inspiration for future research, promote further development, and facilitate the rational application of C. inerme. Nearly 95 chemical constituents belonging to different classes have been isolated from C. inerme, including diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, lignans, iridoid and megastigmane glycosides. Notably, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and flavonoids are the main bioactive substances that have been extensively studied and demonstrated the most significant bioactivity. Pharmacological studies demonstrated that the extract of C. inerme exhibits a wide range of biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiinflammatory, insecticidal, antifeedant, neuroprotective, anti-motor tic, and so on, which are closely connected to its numerous ethnomedicinal applications. Nevertheless, some literature have reported the toxicity of C. inerme. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct further in-depth studies encompassing toxicology, as well as preclinical and clinical research, to ascertain the safety and efficacy of C. inerme for medicinal purposes.
Graphical abstract
This overview on Volkameria inermis (Lamiaceae) is the first in updating information on the chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of the species, notably on its unique ability in ameliorating motor tics. The information was procured from Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, PubMed Central, Science Direct, J-Stage, and PubChem. Previously named Clerodendrum inerme (Verbenaceae), V. inermis is a scrambling or scandent coastal shrub in the tropics and sub-tropics. From different parts of the plant, compounds such as flavonoids, diterpenes/diterpenoids, sterols, triterpenes/triterpenoids, iridoid glycosides, phenolic glycosides, phenylethanoid glycosides (PEGs), phenylpropanoid glycosides (PPGs), chalcones, and sesquiterpenes have been reported. Major pharmacological properties of V. inermis include anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, analgesic, and antibacterial activities. Other properties include anti-tyrosinase, antifungal, neuroprotective, hypotensive, hypoglycemic, amyloid-β aggregation, wound healing, antipyretic, and larvicidal activities. A unique pharmacological property of V. inermis leaf extract, discovered by scientists from Taiwan, is the amelioration of motor tic disorders, a spectrum of Tourette syndrome. This property included a case report, three in vivo studies, and one patent. Areas of further research of V. inermis are suggested.
