Pharmacognostic Insights into Muntingia calabura with Emphasis on its Micromorphology, Phytochemistry, Traditional and Pharmacological Uses

Abstract

Muntingia calabura (Jamaican cherry) is a fast-growing tropical tree which is medicinal in multiple cultures. Overall pharmacognostic features of the?plant including calcium oxalate crystals, anisocytic stomata and characteristic trichomes are reported in this review. The claimed antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anticancer and hepatoprotective roles of the plant are ascribed to the presence of high?level of bioactive compounds through flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, phenolics, saponins and tannins. Many in vitro?and in vivo studies have also confirmed these pharmacological effects. Particle microscopy and physicochemical studies serve to verify the identification?and quality control of this raw material. Although efficacy data in humans are scant, animal studies demonstrate a wide?margin of safety. We are encouraged with the potential of?M. calabura as herbal drugs because it has a wide traditional medicinal use and pharmacological activities. Its clinical uses need to be confirmed and expanded by further standardization, chemical isolation, mechanism analysis, and?clinical trials.

Keywords

Introduction

Fig. 1: Histological Characteristics of the Leaf, Petiole, and Stem of Muntingia calabura [7]

1. 1. 2. Stem Histology [8]:

A peripheral vascular system with a parenchymatous cortex and pith is visible in the stem of Muntingia calabura. Crystal druses of calcium oxalate are seen in the inner cortex. Both glandular and non-glandular trichomes, which are linked to the release of mucilage and phenolic chemicals, are abundant in the epidermis. These secretory structures are thought to be possible locations for bioactive chemical synthesis.

1. 1. 3. Root Histology [9]:

Muntingia calabura's root has typical dicotyledonous traits. It has a central vascular cylinder, an endodermis covering a fully formed pericycle, and a multilayered cortex made up of parenchymatous cells. Around the central pith, xylem and phloem alternate, forming a radial arrangement of the vascular tissues. Notably, the root's pharmacological qualities may be influenced by the large amounts of calcium oxalate crystals and starch grains found in the vascular and cortical areas.

1. 1. 4. Powder Microscopy of Muntingia calabura [10]:

Characteristics of Muntingia calabura powder include calcium oxalate crystals in large quantities in druse and cluster shapes, as well as pieces of parenchyma and epidermal cells. Anisocytic stomata, unicellular simple and multicellular glandular trichomes, and vascular components such as fibers and vessels with bordered pits are all visible. Additionally, remnants of palisade tissue and starch granules is observed both help to identify and authenticate the plant material.

2. Organoleptic properties of fruit [6,11]:
3. Physicochemical parameters [11,12]:
4. Phytochemistry [3]:

Certain chemical compounds found in plants have therapeutic potential because they have a specific physiological effect on humans. The components are either inactive or therapeutically active. The structural components of plants, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and starches, are the inactive ingredients. Nonetheless, the inactive ingredients have medicinal applications. Secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, glycosides, volatile oils, tannins, flavonoids, sterols, and saponins constitute the active ingredients.

They are deposited in the cells and are referred to as secondary metabolites since they are produced from primary products that the plant is unable to repurpose. 56 substances, including furan derivatives, sesquiterpenoids, phenolic compounds, alcohols, and esters, were detected in the fruit extract. Squalene, triglycerides, a combination of palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid, as well as a mixture of stigmasterol and β-sitosterol, were all found in the dichloromethane extract of the plant's fruit.

Myrcene, thymol, α terpinol, linalool, geraniol, enrol, citronellol, eugenol, α lonone, β sitosterol, α amyrin, lupeol, α tocopherol, and β carotene are among the volatile chemicals found in the leaf's aqueous extract.

Ascorbic acid, Pyridoxinem, Niacin, Glucose, Fructose, Biotin, Thiamine, Kaempferol, Catechin, Quercetin, Riboflavin, Folic acid, Succinic acid, Malic acid, Cinnamic acid, Gallic acid, Pantothenic acid, and Ascorbic acid were all detected by the LC-MS analysis.

5. Traditional Uses [3]:

Muntingia calabura's various parts have been used to cure a variety of ailments. The flowers are used to treat lower extremity edema and as an antibacterial. When cooked or steeped in water, the leaves are used to treat colds and headaches, as well as to lessen gastric ulcers and prostate gland swelling. In addition to being used as a tonic and tranquilizer, flowers are also used as antispasmodics, anti-dyspeptics, and to cure headaches and colds. Apart from that, Malaysia has utilized Muntingia calabura roots as an abortifacient. Extracts from leaves, petals, and bark that have been cooked or soaked in water are used as antiseptics in Peru and to lessen stomach ulcers and prostate gland swelling in South America. It is also thought to relieve colds and headaches. Flowers are believed to be effective in treating headaches and cold symptoms in a few locations in the Philippines. In Colombia, the flowers' infusion is used as a tonic and sedative. In Mexico, the plant is also used to cure measles, stomachaches, and mouth pimples. Additionally, it has been reported to be beneficial as a tranquilizer and antispasmodic. In Vietnam, the plant's roots can also be used as an emmenagogue. The leaf infusion is used as a tea-like beverage, while the fruits are often cooked in tarts or turned into jam.

6. Pharmacological Activities:

• Antioxidant Activity: Because of phenolics and flavonoids like quercetin and gallic acid, fruit extracts exhibit a notable reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in nitric oxide radical scavenging capacity [13].
• Antimicrobial Activity: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were shown to be susceptible to the antibacterial properties of ethyl acetate and leaf aqueous extract [14].
• Anti-inflammatory Activity: Strong anti-inflammatory potential was demonstrated by the substantial inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats by methanol extract of leaves [15].
• Anticancer Activity: Through the action of flavonoids on the colon tissue, a methanolic extract of leaf extract had a cytotoxic impact against AOM-induced colon cancer, indicating potential anticancer characteristics [16].
• Antidiabetic Activity: Ethanol leaf extract demonstrated antidiabetic action by lowering blood glucose levels in mice with Alloxan-induced diabetes [17].
• Analgesic and Antipyretic Effects: The leaf's chloroform extract validated its traditional usage for fever and pain by lowering pyrexia and basal hot plate latency in rats using Eddy's hot plate [18].
• Hepatoprotective Effects: Hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated hepatoprotective efficacy in rats by preventing liver damage caused by paracetamol [19].
• Antiulcer activity: In a rat model of ulcers caused by ethanol and indomethacin, methanolic leaf extract demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition [20].
• Insecticidal activity: It was discovered that ethanolic and hexane extracts of Muntingia calabura's fruits and flowers were harmful to Plutella xylostella and diamondback moth larvae [21].
• Antihypertensive activity: The methanolic extract has a strong hypotensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) [22].
• Antidiabetic activity: When M. calabura leaves are extracted using 50% ethanol, they can significantly reduce the difficulties associated with diabetes while also preventing the harmful side effects of synthetic anti-diabetic medications [23].
• Cardioprotective activity: Stem bark methanolic extract significantly reduced cardiac necrosis and serum biomarkers that indicated cardiac protection [24].

7. Toxicity and Safety Profile:
   1. Acute Toxicity Studies [3]:

Rats were given oral doses of M. calabura leaf methanol extract at 300, 500, and 2000 mg/kg in an attempt to test for acute toxicity. The first 2-3 hours after administration of extract, percentage mortality observation starting from 24 h continued up to a period of 14 days.  Results showed that there were no indications of toxicity or death, indicating that the extract was safe up to a dosage of 2000 mg/kg.

1. 2. Sub chronic Toxicity Studies [25]:

In 90-day oral administration, M. calabura extracts did not significantly alter the haematological, biochemical, or histopathological parameters of treated rats in comparison to control.

1. 3. Adverse Effects [26]:

There is no proof that Muntingia calabura is primarily responsible for any adverse drug reactions (ADRs). According to some research, however, further study is required to completely comprehend its possible impacts and long-term safety.

8. Future Perspectives:

Although preclinical research is the majority of the current research on Muntingia calabura, it indicates remarkable therapeutic promise. Standardized extract formulations and long-term toxicity data are inadequate, and human clinical trials are scarce. Additionally, little is known about how its active ingredients work.

Its potential for therapeutic development is supported by the presence of important phytochemicals including rutin and quercetin, particularly for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant uses. To confirm these effects and find more bioactive components, more pharmacological research is necessary.

Future research should concentrate on chemical isolation utilizing cutting-edge methods and thorough pharmacognostic profiling. To verify safety and effectiveness in humans, clinical trials are necessary. Its therapeutic effectiveness may be increased by investigating synergistic effects with other medications or botanicals.

CONCLUSION:

Muntingia calabura is a multipurpose medicinal plant that has a rich phytochemical profile and a variety of pharmacological actions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and antioxidant properties. It has a lot of potential for therapeutic uses in contemporary medicine. Its current therapeutic application is limited by the absence of human clinical trials, standardized formulations, and long-term safety investigations, despite the abundance of preclinical data. To determine its efficacy and safety, future study should concentrate on mechanism-based investigations, human trials, and phytochemical standardization. M. calabura may prove to be a useful source for the creation of innovative natural drugs with the right validation.

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