Dear readers, this entry aims to expand phytopharmacological information for users of the HIVE platform, on this occasion on the phytopharmacological properties of Plectranthus neochilus, plant species known as Lobster flower.
Introduction
In this thematic series on phytopharmacology, I have been emphasizing the therapeutic and prophylactic potentialities of the secondary phytomethabolites present in plant species, since the positive action of these substances on health in humans is the main aspect that has propagated the use of a significant number of plant species to treat various pathologies from the beginning of civilization to the present day, however, it should be noted that to date, at the experimental and clinical level, not all the phytopharmacological properties of the extensive plant diversity are known, nor are the multiple adverse events that can be caused by artisanal plant preparations and certified phytopharmaceuticals when not administered in adequate doses.
Although, for some plant species there are already phytopharmacological profiles obtained through rigorous experimental and clinical trials, which justify their valuable effectiveness and at the same time determine the toxicity reactions that can cause the administration of these substances in high doses, it is also true that all this information collected, in terms of disclosure does not reach society, and even less to the most economically depressed social strata.
Consequently, and taking into account the problems of outreach that prevail in society, the objective of this post is to use the HIVE platform to socialize the main phytopharmacological properties of Plectranthus neochilus (Lobster flower), detailing its botanical characterization, phytopharmacological responses, adverse reactions, commercial phytopharmacological profile, and artisanal use of extracts based on this valuable plant material.
Botanical characteristics
Taxonomy and distribution
The specimens of Plectranthus neochilus, are artificially placed in the Division: Magnoliophyta., Class: Magnoliopsidad., Order: Lamiales., and Family: Lamiaceae, and are characterized by exhibiting herbaceous to perennial biotype, in addition to presenting Pantropical distribution essentially in Mediterranean eco-regions, however, growth and vegetative development is favored in warm seasonal climates.
Common names
Specimens of Plectranthus neochilus, are vernacularly called Lobster flower, among other common designations it is also known as Boldo Paraguayo, Coleus, Espanta mascotas, and in the case of Venezuela it is identified as Acetaminophen.
Vegetative and reproductive morphology
The specimens Plectranthus neochilus, are characterized by presenting herbaceous stems, with simple trichomes unisiered to multicellular and branched, simple leaf blades, peciolated, and pubescent, of opposite phyllotaxic model decussated, obovate aspect, serrated margin, acute apex, and cuneiform base, bisexual flowers with bilateral symmetry of white or purple color, with inflorescence in the form of opposite summits, fruits type nut of ovoid morphology, and mucilaginous seeds.
Phytopharmacological responses
Phytometbolites reported
In phytopharmacology, the specimens of Plectranthus neochilus are known for their effective action on the main infectious pathologies caused by virus and bacteria, besides their positive therapeutic responses in carcinogenic, dermatological and gastrointestinal pictures, and even when, its medicinal use by means of aqueous preparations dates from various ancestral practices in South Africa, the experimental and clinical findings obtained at phytochemical level, corroborate the positive effects that phytomethabolites present in the foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus on health, among these the bioactive substances of greater phytopharmacological action are found; the diterpenes, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and polyphenolics, and some strong> essential oils based on volatile compounds like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenylpropanes [1].
However, according to several experimental studies, phytomethabolites present in foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus, those with higher antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities, are compounds with polyphenolic chemical structure, mainly Caffeic acids, chlorogenic acids, and Rosmarinic acids, together with groups of flavonoid substances such as 3,7-dimethylquercetin, Rutin 6, and Naringin 7 [2].
Antiviral activity
The phytomethabolites of polyphenolic chemical structure that exhibit the foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus, stand out for their effective action on common viral pathologies, however, also prescribe specific antiviral responses against infections by retroviruses, this according to the prophylactic use in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), causing the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), since this type of patients, after being administered these phytomethabolites, subsequently register a lower viral load compared to other patients who do not receive this type of phytopharmacological treatments [3].
Analgesic action
In addition to the antiviral bioactivity that presents the polyphenolic phytomethabolites of Plectranthus neochilus, in the case of Rosmarinic acids present in the foliar laminae of these specimens, it has been proven the natural analgesic action that they exhibit, by acting as headache and muscle pain relievers, as well as by regulating the pain that affects people with severe migraine.
Antifungal activity
According to the experimental results obtained by [4], the essential oils that are present in the foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus in high proportions, a promising antifungal activity has been inferred against phytopathogenic fungi that cause superficial mycosis, when relating the inhibitory capacity that have the volatile compounds present in these essential oils, however, Although the results determine some agricultural relevance for the effect on phyto-fungus affecting other plant species, these natural antifungal compounds also prescribe promising antifungal activity in humans, however, in tests carried out by [5], at laboratory level where rodents were used, dermal toxicity effects were found when applying gel based on foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus aspect that deserves new tests to determine lower doses that allow establishing optimal ranges.
Anti-cancer action
Among the potential uses of phytomethabolites of Plectranthus neochilus, the cytotoxic activity is one of the most promising, this because, according to studies developed by [6], it has been shown that the hexane fraction of these phytomethabolites tend to present specific toxicity to cancer cells, essentially those cells that induce tongue carcinoma, hence, more experimental and clinical trials are being recommended to investigate the cell death profile induced by polyphenolic phytosubstances, and flavonoids of Plectranthus neochilus.
Adverse reactions
Unlike the adverse reactions exerted by phytomethabolites present in other plant specimens, there is a lower probability that phytosubstances of Plectranthus neochilus produce adverse effects, so that, to date, there are few counter-indications, since their use, both handmade and phytopharmacological, has been shown to be more viable in patients with viral, bacterial, analgesic action, and antioxidant responses [3].
Phytopharmacological profile
Phytopharmaceuticals based on specimens of the Plectranthus neochilus
Experimental and clinical studies, developed until now, have been mainly oriented to determine the effect that phytomethabolites of Plectranthus neochilus have on specific pathologies, therefore, little progress has been made regarding the issue of dosages, an element by which the phytopharmacological industry does not feel attracted to synthesize these phytosubstances, in order to later develop drugs that prescribe the effects described above.
Handmade use of extracts based on Plectranthus neochilus
In the paragraph on reported phytomethabolites, I pointed out that the medicinal use of aqueous preparations based on foliar laminae of Plectranthus neochilus, dates from various ancestral practices in South Africa, an approach that has extended its use in most tropical and subtropical countries, as is the case in Venezuela, where in the last years a solid medicinal use of liquid extracts based on the young or meristematic foliar laminae of this promising vegetable resource has been established where by colloquial particularities it is usually called Acetaminophen, Atamel, or Ibuprofen, this because of the similar analgesic and antipyretic effects of fast action that these phytomethacolites have with respect to synthetic drugs that have these commercial names.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS PUBLICATION
- The content developed in this delivery, extends the information of phytopharmacological nature in the #HIVE platform, by outlining the main elements and experimental and clinical responses of greater relevance to date have been reported for specimens of Plectranthus neochilus, specifically those related to the positive action of its main phytomethabolites on antiviral activity, analgesic action, antifungal activity, anti-cancer action and low adverse effects against indications of these phytosubstances.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES CONSULTED AND CITED:
[1] Rice L., Brits G., Potgieter C., and Staden J. Plectranthus: A plant for the future?. South African Journal of Botany. 2011; 77: 947 – 959. Article: Online access
[2] Matias D., Nicolai M., Fernandes M., Saraiva N., Almeida J., Saraiva L., Faustino C., Díaz A., Reis C., and Rijo P. Comparison Study of Different Extracts of Plectranthus madagascariensis, P. neochilus and the Rare P. porcatus (Lamiaceae): Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities. Biomolecules 2019; 9: 179. Article: Online access
[3] Almeida M., Soares M., and Mendonça F. Use of plants with medicinal purposes by people living with HIV/ AIDS on antiretroviral therapy. Saúde e Sociedade. 2012; 21; 2: 424 - 434. Article: Online access
[4] Aguiar G., Lima K., Severiano M., Groppo M., Ambrósio A., and Crevelin E. Antifungal activity of the essential oils of Plectranthus neochilus (Lamiaceae) and Tagetes erecta (Asteraceae) cultivated in brazil. Internationa Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 2018; 1; 1: 31 – 35. Article: Online access
[5] Rêgo M., Silva C., Maia C., Teixeira M., Marinho M., and Lima E. Evaluation of the safety of the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Plectranthus neochilus Schlechter, Lamiaceae and Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl, Eupharbiaceae in rodents. Medicina Veterinária (UFRPE), Recife. 2018; 12; 2: 82 – 92. Article: Online access
[6] Alvares G., Freitas J., Taveira S., Neves E., Silveira D., and Simeoni L. Cytotoxic effect of Plectranthus neochilus extracts in head and neck carcinoma cell lines. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2016; 10, 10: 157 – 163. Article: Online access
ATTENTION
Readers and followers
If you wish to read more scientific articles in English or Spanish, of excellent academic quality, do not hesitate to visit #STEMSocial and #STEM-espanol, communities that promote scientific content mainly in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.