Antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, and cytotoxic activities of an important medicinal plant (Euphorbia royleana) from Pakistan.[Pubmed: 28911432]

The aim of present study was to evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities of methanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts of fresh Euphorbia royleana. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated as gallic acid and querectin equivalents, respectively. Antioxidant activity was assessed by scavenging of free 2,2'- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and reduction of ferric ions, and it was observed that inhibition values increase linearly with increase in concentration of extract. The results of ferric reducing antioxidant power assay showed that hexane extract has maximum ferric reducing power (12.70 ± 0.49 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of plant extract). Maximum phenolic (47.47 ± 0.71 μg gallic acid equivalents/mg of plant extract) and flavonoid (63.68 ± 0.43 μg querectin equivalents/mg of plant extract) contents were also found in the hexane extract. Furthermore, we examined antimicrobial activity of the three extracts (methanol, hexane, aqueous) against a panel of microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtillis, Pasteurella multocida, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium solani) by disc-diffusion assay, and found the hexane extract to be the best antimicrobial agent. Hexane extract was also observed as to be most effective in a potato disc assay. As hexane extract showed potent activity in all the investigated assays, it was targeted for cytotoxic assessment. Maximum cytotoxicity (61.66%) by hexane extract was found at 800 μg/mL. It is concluded that investigated extracts have potential for isolation of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.

Blood electrolytes of the freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis in response to treatment with a botanical pesticide (latex of Euphorbia royleana).[Pubmed: 21645279]

The aim of the present study was to determine changes in blood electrolytes (calcium and phosphate) in the freshwater catfish Heteropneustes fossilis following short- and long-term exposure to latex of Euphorbia royleana. To investigate the effects of short-term exposure, fish were exposed to 80% of the 96-h LC(50) of E. royleana latex (2.47 mg/L) for 96 h. To assess the effects of long-term exposure, fish were exposed to 20% of the 96-h LC(50) of E. royleana latex (0.618 mg/L) for 28 days. Fish were killed after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h (short-term experiments) or after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days (long-term experiments). Blood samples were collected and sera were analyzed to determine calcium and inorganic phosphate levels. Serum calcium levels decreased progressively in H. fossilis after 48 h exposure to E. royleana latex. This decrease persisted until the end of the experiment (96 h). Serum inorganic phosphate levels in treated fish decreased progressively from 72 h. After 7 days exposure to E. royleana latex, decreased serum calcium levels were noted in H. fossilis that persisted until the end of the experiment. Serum phosphate levels were decreased in H. fossilis on days 21 and 28 of exposure to E. royleana latex. It is concluded that E. royleana latex alters the blood electrolyte content of the fish. The change in these electrolytes, particularly calcium levels, may cause disturbances in the normal vital physiological functions of the fish, its growth rate, and even its ability to survive in nature.

Ingol and ingenol diterpenes from the aerial parts of Euphorbia royleana and their antiangiogenic activities.[Pubmed: 19438253]

Ten new ingol lathyrane-type diterpenes (1-10) and two known ingenol derivatives (11 and 12) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia royleana. The structures of 1-10 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR analysis, and the structure of compound 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Antiangiogenic effects of all compounds except for 5 were tested using a zebrafish model, with compounds 11 and 12 being active in this bioassay.

Effect of cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol from Euphorbia royleana latex on neuroenzyme AChE and oxidative metabolism of freshwater fish, Channa punctatus.[Pubmed: 20161954]

Cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol isolated from Euphorbia royleana latex possesses potent piscicidal activity against freshwater predatory fish Channa punctatus. Their short as well as long-term exposure causes significant (P<0.05) time and dose-dependent reversible alteration in the oxidative metabolism of the fish Channa punctatus Cycloart-24-en-3beta-ol also shifts fish respiratory pathway, inhibits energy production and AChE activity reversibly may be advantageous for their use as environmentally safe piscicide for controlling the predatory fish C. punctatus population from carp culture ponds.

The toxicity of four native Indian plants: effect on AChE and acid/alkaline phosphatase level in fish Channa marulius.[Pubmed: 15910912]

The latex of four plants viz. Euphorbia royleana, Jatropha gossypifolia (Euphorbiaceae), Nerium indicum and Thevetia peruviana (Apocynaceae) caused significant reduction in acid/alkaline phosphatase activity and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity in nervous tissue of freshwater air breathing fish Channa marulius. The reduction in the activity of both phosphatases and AChE were time as well as dose dependent.

Immunosuppressive properties of an ethyl acetate fraction from Euphorbia royleana.[Pubmed: 15894125]

The objective of the study was to investigate the activity of the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction of Euphorbia royleana latex on cellular and humoral-mediated immune responses and phagocytic function of the cells of the reticuloendothelial system in mice. Oral administration of EA at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg p.o. in mice with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) as an antigen-inhibited both the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and the production of circulating antibody titre. Reduction of CD4+ T cell counts in the peripheral whole blood and the neutrophil counts in pleural exudates of the animals treated with EA was observed by flowcytometric analysis. Process of phagocytosis was also inhibited in in vivo and in vitro experimental test models. The oral LD50 in both rats and mice was more than 2.5 g/kg body weight.

Toxicological effect and biochemical alterations induced by different fractions of Euphorbia royleana latex in freshwater harmful vector snail Lymnaea acuminata.[Pubmed: 15623235]

Laboratory evaluation was made to assess the molluscicidal activity of different fractions of Euphorbia royleana (Family- Euphorbiaceae) latex obtained through sephadex gel column against freshwater snail Lymnaea (Radix) acuminata Lamarack. This snail is the vector of liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica Linnaeus and Fasciola gigantica Cobbold, which causes endemic fascioliasis in cattle and livestock. The toxic effect of the different fractions was time dependent and fifth fraction obtained through benzene: ethyl acetate (5:5) had maximum molluscicidal activity against Lymnaea acuminata. There was a significant negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods thus increase in exposure time, the LC50 value of V fraction of Euphorbia royleana latex was decreased from 14.28 mg/l (24 hr) to 9.28 mg/l (96 hr) against Lymnaea acuminata. After exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of this fraction there were significant time and dose dependent alterations observed in pyruvate, lactate levels, ALAT, AAT, AChE and cytochrome oxidase enzyme activities in different body tissues of Lymnaea acuminata. It is proposed that the fifth fraction of E. royleana latex can be used as a molluscicide for controlling the harmful snail population from aquatic ecosystem without any harm due to their reversible toxic action.

Piscicidal and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Euphorbia royleana stem bark extracts against freshwater common predatory fish Channa punctatus.[Pubmed: 21782734]

The present paper deals with the piscicidal activity of different solvent extracts of Euphorbia royleana stem bark against freshwater predatory fish Channa punctatus, which is commonly present in shrimp and carp culture ponds. The rank of order of toxicity of different solvent extract was: diethyl ether (LC(50) (96h) 31.76mg DW/L) > chloroform (LC(50) (96h) 56.26mg DW/L) > methanol (LC(50) (96h) 56.80mg DW/L) > acetone (LC(50) (96h) 65.77mg DW/L). There was a significant (P < 0.05) negative correlation between LC values and exposure periods, thus increase in exposure time. The LC(50) values of diethyl ether extract of E. royleana stem bark decrease from 81.78mg DW/L (24h) to 31.76mg DW/L (96h). Similar trend were also observed in case of chloroform, methanol and acetone extracts. Exposure of sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC(50)) of the diethyl ether extract for 24h or 96h caused significant inhibition in the activity of enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in liver and muscle tissue of fish C. punctatus. There was a significant recovery observed in the activity of enzyme acetylcholinesterase in both the tissues of fish after 7th day of the withdrawal of treatment. Thus, the diethyl ether extract of E. royleana stem bark can be used for control of unwanted predatory fish C. punctatus from fish culture ponds. Their toxicological action is due to their anti-acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity, reversibility in their action is advantageous factor for their use as environmentally safe piscicide in aquatic bodies.

Molluscicidal and in-vitro schistosomicidal activities of the latex and some extracts of some plants belonging to Euphorbiacea.[Pubmed: 14708864]

Plant molluscicicdes proved to be good means for controlling fresh water snails of schistosomiasis. The molluscicidal activities of the natural and lyophilized latex extracts of Euphorbia royleana and E. mouritanica and acetonitril and chloroform extracts of Jatropha carcus were investigated against Biomphalaria alexandrina the intermediate hosts for S. mansoni. The lyophilized latex extract of E. royleana showed the highest toxicity against snails with LC90 value of 11 ppm. While the natural latex extract of E. mouritanica showed the lowest toxicity against snails with LC90 value of 60 ppm. While, the acetonitril extract of Jatropha carcus gave high toxicity against snails with LC90 value of 6 ppm and the chloroform extract gave low toxicity against snails with LC90 value of 55 ppm. The in-vitro schistosomicidal activities of the lyophilized latex extract of E. royleana and the acetonitril extract of J. carcus were studied against S. mansoni adults showed that the lyophilized latex extract of E. royleana gave 100% mortality after exposure to 30 ppm for 4 consecutive days and 66.7% mortality after exposure to 10 ppm for 5 consecutive days. The acetonitril extract of J. carcus gave 91.7% mortality after exposure to 100 ppm for 4 consecutive days and 58.3% mortality after exposure to 50 ppm for 5 consecutive days.