An Updated Review on Phytochemical Properties of "Golden Dewdrop" Duranta erecta.

Duranta erecta (family: Verbenaceae) commonly referred to golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, angel whisper, or skyflower is one of the traditional medicinal plants. It has been shown to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant, and insecticide properties. Its phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolics, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids are reported as the basis of its efficacious therapeutic properties. The other important constituents which contribute to the remedial properties are durantol, pectolinaringenin, repennoside, repenins, and scutellarein. Published information on the phytochemical property of D. erecta was gathered by the use of different database platforms, including Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciFinder, and Scopus, that provided an up-to-date review on its importance.

INTRODUCTION

The interesting in using natural sources or green medicine or medicinal plants is increasing worldwide due to their safety, efficacy, cultural acceptability, and lesser side effects as compared to synthetic drugs such as in Africa,[1] China,[2] Ethiopia,[3] India,[4] Indonesia,[5] and Thailand.[6] The present review is to provide an up-to-date information of the phytochemical properties of Duranta erecta, one of the plants, that is being investigated for diverse health benefits.

Plant Description

d. erecta is an upright scrambling shrub with a height 1–3 m. Stem [Figure 1a]: There are several stems or drooping spiny branches, especially when carrying large number of fruit. The bark is light gray, becoming rough, and fissured when old. There are usually at least some pairs of spines along the stems, one located at the base of each of the leaf stalks. Flowers [Figure 1b]: Light-blue, lavender, or purple, tubular with 1 cm long, five-lobed flowers are borne on the terminal or axillary racemes in sprays up to 20 cm long. Leaves [Figure 1c]: Light-green, opposite leaves are elliptic to ovate. The leaf blades, 15–90 mm long and 12–60 mm wide, usually have entire margins; however, sometimes, they are slightly toothed toward the pointed or round tips. Fruits [Figure 1d and e]: The yellow or yellow-orange fleshy mature fruits are spherical 5–10 mm across with five lobes and grow in hanging clusters.[7]

Figure 1

Gross morphology of Duranta erecta (a) stems, (b) flowers, (c) leaves, (d) immature fruits, and (e) mature fruits

Taxonomical Classification

The taxonomy of D. erecta is in the kingdom (Plantae), subkingdom (Viridiplantae), infrakingdom (Streptophyta), superdivision (Embryophyta), division (Tracheophyta), subdivision (Spermatophytina), class (Magnoliopsida), superorder (Asteranae), order (Lamiales), family (Verbenaceae), genus (Duranta), and species (D. erecta).[8] This genus is named after Castor Durante (1529–1590), a French physician and botanist.[9] The species “erecta” means “upright” in Latin. The genus Duranta comprises from 17 to 34 species.[10]

Nomenclature

D. erecta is a native plant of Southern America, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, and other areas that spread throughout the tropical and warm subtropical regions.[11] The vernacular names of D. erecta include golden dewdrop, pigeon berry, angels whisper, and skyflower (English); vergeet-my-nie-boom (Afrikaans); pingo-de-ouro and violeteira-dourada (Brazilian); kata mehedi (Bengali); jia lian qiao (Chinese); durante dressee and vanillier de cayenne (French); sinyo nakal (Indonesian); sinyo nakal (Japanese); cuentas de oro and san jacinto (Spanish); dueanta (Tagalog); thanh yod (Thai); and thanh quan (Vietnamese).[12]

Phytochemical Substances

Its active phytochemical substances are alkaloid,[13] flavonoid glycosides,[14] saponins,[15] steroids,[16] tannins, and triterpenes.[17] The other active constituents are durantol,[18] scutellarein, pectolinaringenin,[19] iridoid glycosides such as repennoside,[2021] and coumarinolignoids such as cleomiscosin and repenins.[22] Abou-Setta et al.[23] reported that six new compounds as β-sitoserol, naringenin, acteoside, lamiide, sucrose (α-glucopyranosyl-β-fructopyranoside), and raffinose were isolated from Duranta repens. The quantity of phytochemical screening of 100 g of D. erecta leaves showed the presence of tannins (0.49 mg), flavonoids (0.85 mg), alkaloids (0.14 mg), and saponins (0.78 mg) in the methanolic extract.[24] A review of literature regarding the traditional uses or phytochemical properties of D. erecta is shown here.

Antioxidant Activity

Shahat et al.[25] isolated three compounds from methanol extract of D. repens from Egypt, i.e. phenylethanoid glycoside acteoside, iridoid lamiide, and saponin pseudo-ginsenoside-RT1. Acteoside showed an IC50 of 3.05 ± 0.09 µg/mL in the DPPH assay while lamiide and pseudo-ginsenoside-RT1 were not active. Moreover, Khan et al.[26] reported that the ethanol and methanol extracts of D. repens fruits from Bangladesh possess antioxidative potential, which can protect H2O2-induced oxidative cell damage. HEK293T cells were treated with different concentrations 0–1000 µg/mL of ethanol and methanol extracts for 24 h and then treated with 100 µM H2O2 for 24 h. Cell viability, antioxidant parameters of cells, and antioxidant constituent of the extracts were determined. The results showed that ethanol and methanol extracts increased the survival rate of H2O2-treated HEK293T cells, lipid peroxidation, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and H2O2-scavenging activities.

Antibacterial Activity

Nikkon et al.[27] reported that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of D. repens stem and fruit from Bangladesh against Shigella boydii, Shigell a shiga, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, and Shigella sonnei were found to be in the range of 32–128 µg/mL. Ogbuagu et al.[24] reported the antibacterial activity of the methanol extract of D. erecta leaves from Nigeria against some human pathogenic bacteria; Proteus mirabilis, P. mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, and Boletus aereus at 75, 150, 300, and 600 mg/mL by agar diffusion method. The result of minimum inhibition concentrations showed activities against the growth of P. mirabilis (129 mg/mL), B. subtilis (141 mg/mL), S. typhi (81 mg/mL), and B. aereus (100 mg/mL).

Antifungal Activity

sharma et al.[28] reported the antifungal properties of methanolic extract of different parts such as leaves, stem, and roots of D. erecta from India against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Alternaria sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., and Trichoderma sp. using agar disc diffusion method. They reported that methanolic extract of leaf and stem of D. erecta was effective against A. niger, A. flavus and A. fumigatus at 1000 mg/mL concentration which recorded significant inhibition zone of 2.3 cm, 2.3 cm, and 2.2 cm, respectively. Further, Sikarwar et al.[29] reported the aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of D. repens from India against three fungi A. niger, Candida albicans, and Microsporum gypseum by disc diffusion method. The result showed that methanolic extract was found to possess a more potent inhibitory effect when compared to the aqueous one. They also reported the presence of phytocompounds such as alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, and phenols which could be responsible for the antifungal activity.

Antiviral Activity

Antiviral activity against hepatitis A virus was reported by Abou-Setta et al.[23] The ethanol extract of D. repens from Egypt showed 76% reduction viral titer of Hepatitis A at concentration of 40 µg/mL, while at 20 µg/mL, the inhibition reached 64% by plaque reduction assay. The methanolic extract showed 88% inhibition at concentration of 40 µg/mL, while at 20 µg/mL, the inhibition reached 59% of the virus by the same assay. They suggested that this antiviral activity may be attributed to the acteoside or lamiide content in the extract.

Antiparasitic Activity

Ijaz et al.[14] reported that D. repens from Pakistan showed antiplasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, with IC50 values of 8.5 ± 0.9 and 10.2 ± 1.5 μg/mL, respectively.

Insecticide Property

The extracts from D. repens had antifeedant and insecticide properties against the larvae of Culex pipiens and Spodoptera littoralis and the adults of Musca domestica.[30] Nikkon et al.[31] suggested that the stem and fruits of D. repens from Bangladesh are very effective natural larvicide and can be useful against Culex quinquefasciatus. The highest larval mortality was found in chloroform soluble fraction of the stem, with 12 h-LC50 being 10.75 ppm and in ethanolic extract of fruits with 12 h-LC50 being 8.51 ppm against the first instar larvae. Hemavathy and Anitha[32] reported that aqueous and methanolic extracts of D. repens leaves from India against the third instar larvae of C. quinquefasciatus showed high percentage of mortality than ethanolic extract. At 10% concentration of the extract of water, methanol, and ethanol, the larvae found to be dead were 17, 16, and 13 out of 20 larvae. Roy et al.[33] evaluated an aqueous extract of D. repens from India against the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae, to determine its effect on adult mortality, viability of eggs, oviposition deterrence, and repellent properties. The direct spray method was used at concentrations of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g/L. Deposition of eggs by adult mites on treated leaf surfaces decreased and the viability of eggs was also reduced. Its efficacy was comparable to that of the commonly used commercial neem oil azadirachtin formulation. In addition, in the field, the application of the aqueous extract of D. repens reduced the mite population and its efficacy was comparable to that of the synthetic pesticide propargite.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Rattawat Subsongsang

ABOUT AUTHORS

Rattawat Subsongsang, is currently studying his third year in Biological Sciences at Mahidol University International College, Mahidol University, Thailand. Supervised by Assistant Professor Dr. Wannee Jiraungkoorskul, his senior research focuses on Phytochemical Properties of Duranta erecta. He planned to be graduated by September 2018.

Wannee Jiraungkoorskul

Wannee Jiraungkoorskul, is currently working as Assistant Professor in Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Thailand. She received her B.Sc. in Medical Technology, M.Sc. in Physiology, and Ph.D. in Biology. Dr. Wannee Jiraungkoorskul's current research interests are aquatic toxicopathology and efficiency of medicinal herbs.