Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background: Gymnosporia chevalieri is a native species of Vietnam, belonging to the genus Gymnosporia, known for its potential anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties.
Objectives: This study reports the results of in vitro screening for anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic properties and quantification of total triterpenoids of leaf extracts from the G. chevalieri.
Materials and methods: The leaves of G. chevalieri were collected from Dakrong district, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. The extraction procedure involved maceration at room temperature and liquid-liquid partitioning. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells. Anticancer activity was evaluated using a spectrophotometric method with Sulforhodamine B (SRB) dye. Quantification of triterpenoids by UV-Vis.
Results & Conclusion: The methanolic extract demonstrated an inhibitory effect on NO production with an IC50 value of 69.57 ± 2.46 μg/mL. The n-hexane extract exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 46.92 ± 2.07 μg/mL. The methanolic extract exhibited strong inhibitory activity against the cancer cell lines HepG2 (human lung carcinoma), A549 (human cervical carcinoma) and MCF7 (human breast carcinoma); with IC50 values of 2.12 ± 0.16, 4.78 ± 0.74 and 28.79 ± 4.21 μg/mL, respectively. The n-hexane extract demonstrated the most remarkable inhibitory effects against these cell lines, with IC50 values of 14.11 ± 2.52; 27.74 ± 3.77 and 18.32 ± 1.77 μg/mL, respectively. The n-hexane extract contained the highest amount of triterpenoids with equivalent value of 629.76 ± 13.13 mgUA/g extract.
Keywords: Gymnosporia chevalieri, anti-inflammatory, HepG2, A549, total triterpenoid
| Published | 2026-01-03 | |
| Fulltext |
|
|
| Language |
|
|
| Issue | Vol. 15 No. 6 (2025) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| DOI | 10.34071/jmp.2025.6.590 | |
| Keywords | Hep-G2, Gymnosporia chevalieri, anti-inflammatory, Total triterpenoid, A549 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hue Journal of Medicine and Pharmacy
Plants of the World Online [Internet]. [cited 2024 Mar 28]. Gymnosporia (Wight & Arn.) Hook.f. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science.
Kulshreshtha DK. Three new oxygenated triterpenoids of the lupane series from Gymnosporia wallichiana. Phytochemistry. 1977;16(11):1783–1785.
Joshi KC, Bansal RK, Patni R. Chemical constituents of Gymnosporia montana Euonymus pendulus. Planta Medica. 2009;34:211–214.
Wijeratne DBT, Kumar V, Uvais M, Sultanbawa S, Balasubramaniam S. Triterpenes from Gymnosporia emarginata. Phytochemistry. 1982;21(9):2422–2323.
Ochieng CO, Opiyo SA, Mureka EW, Ishola IO. Cyclooxygenase inhibitory compounds from Gymnosporia heterophylla aerial parts. Fitoterapia. 2017;119:168–174.
Bhavita D, Lakshmi B, Maitreyl Z. An overview on ethanomedicinal plant Gymnosporia montana of Celestraceae family. Int J Pharmacogn Chinese Med. 2017; 1(1):000106.
Ndako M, Jigam AA, Kabiru AY, Umar SI, Lawal B. Polar extracts from Gymnosporia senegalensis (syn. Maytenus senegalensis) root bark, its effects on nociception, edema, and malarial infection. Phytomedicine Plus. 2021;1(4):100113.
Sosa S, Morelli CF, Tubaro A, Cairoli P, Speranza G, Manitto P. Anti-inflammatory activity of Maytenus senegalensis root extracts and of maytenoic acid. Phytomedicine. 2007;14(2):109–114.
Lee KH, Nozaki H, Hall IH, Kasai R, Hirayama T, Suzuki H, et al. Antitumor Agents 60. Maytansine, an antileukemic principle from Maytenus diversifolia. J Nat Prod. 1982;45(4):509–510.
Cabanillas F, Bodey GP, Burgess MA, Freireich EJ. Results of a phase II study of maytansine in patients with breast carcinoma and melanoma. Cancer Treat Rep. 1979;63(3):507–509.
Geran RI, Greenberg NH, MacDonald MM, Schumacher A, Abbott BJ. Protocols for screening chemical agents and natural products against animal tumors and other biological systems. Cancer Chemother Rep. 1972: 3(2).
Kuo YH, Chen CH, Kuo LM, King ML, Wu TS, Haruna M, et al. Antitumor agents, 112. Emarginatine B, a novel potent cytotoxic sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid from Maytenus emarginata. J Nat Prod, 1990; 53(2):422-428.
Anywar G, Kakudidi E, Byamukama R, Mukonzo J, Schubert A, Oryem-Origa H, et al. A review of the toxicity and phytochemistry of medicinal plant species used by herbalists in treating people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. Front Pharmacol. 2021;12:615147.
Sandeep, Ghosh S. Chapter 12 - Triterpenoids: structural diversity, biosynthetic pathway, and bioactivity - Studies in Natural Products Chemistry. Elsevier; 2020;411–461.
Pham HH. An illustrated flora of Vietnam [in Vietnamese], 2nd ed. Tre Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; 2000;151–153.
Ho DV, Kodama T, Le HTB, Phan KV, Do TT, Bui TH, et al. A new polyoxygenated cyclohexene and a new megastigmane glycoside from Uvaria grandiflora. Bioorg Med Chem. Lett. 2015;25(16):3246–3250.
Ho VD, Hoang TNH, Vo QH, Phan VK, Le TA, Pham VT, et al. Cycloartane-type triterpene glycosides anopanins A-C with monoacyldigalactosylglycerols from Anodendron paniculatum. Phytochemistry. 2017;144:113–118.
Nguyen KV, Ho DV, Nguyen HM, Do TT, Phan KV, Morita H, et al. Chiro-inositol derivatives from Chisocheton paniculatus showing inhibition of nitric oxide production. J Nat Prod. 2020;83(4):1201–1206.
Antony A, Farid M. Effect of temperatures on polyphenols during extraction. Applied Sciences. 2022;12(4):2107.
Ochieng CO, Opiyo SA, Mureka EW, Ishola IO. Cyclooxygenase inhibitory compounds from Gymnosporia heterophylla aerial parts. Fitoterapia. 2017;119:168–74.
Tran DT, Nguyen PH, Tran MH, Nguyen PD, Ngu TN, Pham THT, et al. Chemical constituents of Gymnosporia stylosa and their anti-inflammatory activity. Rec Nat Prod. 2020;15(1):59–64.
Alate AD, Khandalekar DD, Amonkar AJ, Adwankar MK, Sahasrabudhe MB. A new anti-cancer principle isolated from Gymnosporia rothiana Laws, and its use in attaining cures in L1210 leukaemia in combination with “S” phase sensitive drugs. Biomedicine. 1978;28(5):270–273.
Lee KH, Kuo YH, Chen CH, Yang Kuo LM, King ML, Wu TS, et al. Structure and stereochemistry of Emargiatine-A, a novel cytotoxic sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid from Maytenus emarginata: X-ray crystal steructure of Emarginatine-A monohydrate. Heterocycles. 1989;29(8):1465.
Kuo YH, King ML, Chen CF, Chen HY, Chen CH, Chen K, et al. Two new macrolide sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids from Maytenus emarginata: Emarginatine G and the cytotoxic emarginatine F. J Nat Prod. 1994;57(2):263–9.
Deng JZ, Newman DJ, Hecht SM. Use of COMPARE analysis to discover functional analogues of bleomycin. J Nat Prod. 2000;63(9):1269–72.
Joshi KC, Singh P, Singhi CL. Triterpene quinone-methides from Gymnosporia montana. Planta Med. 1981;43(1):89–91.
Deeb D, Gao X, Liu YB, Pindolia K, Gautam SC. Pristimerin, a quinonemethide triterpenoid, induces apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells through the inhibition of pro-survival Akt/NF-κB/mTOR signaling proteins and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Int J Oncol. 2014;44(5):1707–1715.
Da Silva G, Martinho A, Soengas RG, Duarte AP, Serrano R, Gomes ET, et al. A new spermidine macrocyclic alkaloid isolated from Gymnosporia arenicola leaf. Fitoterapia. 2015;106:7–11.
Tatsimo JSN, Toume K, Nagata T, Havyarimana L, Fujii T, Komatsu K. Monoglycerol ester, galloylglucoside and phenolic derivatives from Gymnosporia senegalensis leaves. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology. 2019;83:33–8.
Nghia DTA, Hanh HTN, Anh LT, Van LTH, Hung VQ, Duc HV, et al. Isolation and structural determination of pentacyclic triterpenoids from the leaves of Gymnosporia chevalieri Tard. Hue J Med Pharm. 2025;06(14):134.
Safayhi H, Sailer ER. Anti-inflammatory actions of pentacyclic triterpenes. Planta Med 1997; 63(6): 487-493.
Ghante MH, Jamkhande PG. Role of pentacyclic triterpenoids in chemoprevention and anticancer treatment: an overview on targets and underling mechanisms. J Pharmacopuncture. 2019;22(2):55-67.