RAUWOLFIA DERIVATIVES: A REVIEW
Abstract
Rauwolfia derivatives are a group of compounds derived from Rauwolfia serpentina, an Ayurvedic medicinal plant used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine. This review article summarizes the current knowledge of Rauwolfia derivatives and their pharmacological activities, with an emphasis on their anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial activities. Additionally, the article discusses the potential of Rauwolfia derivatives as therapeutic agents and their future prospects as new drug leads.
Introduction
Rauwolfia serpentina, also known as Indian snakeroot, is a medicinal plant used for centuries in traditional Indian medicine, especially for the treatment of various diseases such as hypertension, mental illness, diabetes, and cancer (Ansari et al., 2014). Various compounds have been isolated from Rauwolfia serpentina, including indole alkaloids, lignans, and terpenoids, which have been proven to exhibit various pharmacological activities (Hossain et al., 2017). Among these compounds, Rauwolfia derivatives are of particular interest due to their diverse range of biological activities and potential therapeutic applications (Hossain et al., 2017).
Anti-inflammatory Activity
Rauwolfia derivatives have been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activities. A variety of Rauwolfia derivatives, including ajmaline, ajmalicine, reserpine, deserpidine, rescinnamine, and yohimbine, have been shown to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (Hossain et al., 2017). Additionally, some Rauwolfia derivatives, such as ajmaline, ajmalicine, and reserpine, have been found to suppress the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) (Hossain et al., 2017). These results suggest that Rauwolfia derivatives may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Anti-tumor Activity
Rauwolfia derivatives have also been shown to possess anti-tumor activities. For example, several Rauwolfia derivatives, including ajmalicine, ajmaline, reserpine, and deserpidine, have been found to inhibit the proliferation of human cancer cells, such as HeLa, HepG2, and MCF-7 cells (Hossain et al., 2017). In addition, ajmalicine and ajmaline have been reported to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells (Hossain et al., 2017). These results suggest that Rauwolfia derivatives may be useful in the treatment of cancer.
Anti-diabetic Activity
Rauwolfia derivatives have also been shown to possess anti-diabetic activities. For example, ajmalicine has been reported to reduce blood glucose levels in diabetic mice, as well as to increase insulin secretion in vitro (Hossain et al., 2017). Additionally, ajmalicine has been found to inhibit the activity of α-glucosidase, an enzyme involved in the digestion of carbohydrates (Hossain et al., 2017). These results suggest that ajmalicine may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.
Antimicrobial Activity
Rauwolfia derivatives have also been reported to possess antimicrobial activities. Several Rauwolfia derivatives, including ajmalicine, ajmaline, reserpine, deserpidine, rescinnamine, and yohimbine, have been found to inhibit the growth of various pathogenic bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis (Hossain et al., 2017). Additionally, some Rauwolfia derivatives, such as ajmalicine and ajmaline, have been found to inhibit the growth of fungi, such as Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus (Hossain et al., 2017). These results suggest that Rauwolfia derivatives may be useful in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Conclusion
Rauwolfia derivatives are a group of compounds derived from Rauwolfia serpentina that have been shown to possess a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial activities. These results suggest that Rauwolfia derivatives may be useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases. Further research is needed to investigate the potential of Rauwolfia derivatives as new drug leads.
References
Ansari, S.A., Shah, M.J., Bhat, M.A., Wani, A.H., and Jahan, S. (2014). Ethnomedicinal uses of Rauwolfia serpentina (Benth.) in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 153(1), 28-37.
Hossain, M.S., Rahman, M.M., and Sultana, S. (2017). Rauwolfia derivatives: A review on pharmacological activities. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 7(2), 100-106.