Elsevier

Industrial Crops and Products

Volume 123, 1 November 2018, Pages 500-538
Industrial Crops and Products

Comprehensive review on flavonoids biological activities of Erythrina plant species

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.06.028Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Genus Erythrina as prolific source of bioactive flavonoids.

  • An ethnopharmacological overview on Erythrina species.

  • Isolated flavonoids from various Erythrina species with their reported biological activities.

  • Structural activity relationship of some isolated bioactive flavonoids from Erythrina.

Abstract

Erythrina species (Fabaceae) or coral trees are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various ailments, such as anxiety, inflammation, wound healing, and microbial infections. Alkaloids and flavonoids are the main bioactive constituents isolated from genus Erythrina. The present review sheds light on Erythrina species flavonoidal content, that can serve as lead compounds in managing various diseases, including oxidative stress, inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. It is a comprehensive study of the flavonoidal constituents from Erythrina species, with their structural diversity and reported biological activity. More than 370 flavonoid compounds were isolated from genus Erythrina, including flavones, flavonols, flavanones, chalcones, isoflavans, isoflav-3-enes, neoflav-3-ene, isoflavanones, isoflavones, pterocarpans, coumestans, arylcoumarins, coumaronochromones, arylbenzofurans, and biflavonoids.

Introduction

People around the world have extensively used naturally occurring substances for health purposes. In the past few decades, natural products gained much interest and played important roles in the treatment of many diseases. Natural products represent a rich source of new drugs and drug leads because they hold a high structural and chemical diversity not found in synthetic compounds (Lahlou, 2007). Flavonoids are a group of naturally occurring compounds with variable phenolic structures (Kumar and Pandey, 2013). They are well known for their various biological activity, that was attributed to their high antioxidant activity (Pinheiro and Justino, 2012). However, recent studies highlighted the potential of flavonoids as an anti-inflammatory agent and showed their importance in the inhibition of different pro-inflammatory mediators (Serafini et al., 2010), which explained the mechanism by which they exert their therapeutic effects. Flavonoids gained much attention in managing metabolic syndromes, cancers, cognitive and immune system disorders (Kumar and Pandey, 2013; Macready et al., 2009).

Genus Erythrina belongs to family Fabaceae and comprises over 130 species. Plants of this genus are cultivated in different countries and they are widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical areas around the world. Erythrina species are cultivated particularly as an ornamental, shade and soil improvement trees. Erythrina americana Mill. is easily propagated by vegetative means as well as by seeds (Kumar et al., 2010). Erythrina lysistemon Hutch. is cultivated in Egypt as an ornamental plant (El-Masry et al., 2002). Erythrina is derived from the Greek word “erythros”, which means red, the most common color of Erythrina flowers. However, some species possess orange and yellow flowers. It is occasionally referred to as the “coral tree” as some of the species have coral-colored flowers (de Araújo-Júnior et al., 2012). Traditionally, genus Erythrina has been widely used in the treatment of various ailments, the stem bark and leaves were used to make an infusion that exhibits tranquilizing and anti-anxiety properties (de Oliveira et al., 2014). Different species have been used to manage microbial infections, inflammation (Namkoong et al., 2011; Waffo et al., 2000), dizziness, amenorrhea, headache, eye troubles (Togola et al., 2009), female sterility (Njamen et al., 2003), liver disorders, asthma, epilepsy, malaria (Kumar et al., 2010; Yenesew et al., 2004), and wounds (Bedane et al., 2016a).

Previous reports demonstrated the occurrence of various phytochemicals in Erythrina species, with alkaloids and flavonoids as the principle bioactive constituents. Triterpenes, sterols, stilbenes, coumarins and phenolic acids were also reported. Alkaloids were considered the only reported phytochemicals from this genus because researchers focused on the isolation of Erythrina alkaloidal content until the late seventies (Majinda et al., 2005). Erythrina alkaloids were reported as neuromuscular blockers, smooth muscle relaxant, anti-depressant and anticonvulsant (Ghosal et al., 1972). Nevertheless, reports started to arise on the flavonoid content mainly flavanones, isoflavanones, isoflavones, and pterocarpans. Reported flavonoids from this genus exhibited numerous biological activities, with cytotoxic activity on different cancer cell lines as the most commonly studied activity (Passreiter et al., 2015). Anti-inflammatory (Togola et al., 2009), antidiabetic (Cui et al., 2007), antimicrobial (Tanaka et al., 2003b), antiHIV (Lee et al., 2009), and anti-plasmodial (Rukachaisirikul et al., 2008) activities were also reported.

Reviews on Erythrina were published; however, they mainly focused on the alkaloidal content of the plants belonging to this genus or on certain selected Erythrina species (Chawla and Kapoor, 1995; Hussain et al., 2016; Jackson, 1985). To the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive, updated phytochemical review was published covering most of the studied Erythrina species, their ethnopharmacology and flavonoid constituents with their reported biological activities. Only Majinda et al. (2005) discussed the non-alkaloidal constituents of different Erythrina species and reported only 86 compounds isolated from the genus.

To divulge the importance of natural products and phytochemicals, specifically flavonoids as lead compounds in managing various diseases, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer, this review sheds light on genus Erythrina as a potential source of flavonoids showing their wide structural diversity and biological activity.

Flavonoids isolated from this genus were subjected to various biological studies. About 370 flavonoids were isolated from different Erythrina species, many of these compounds showed cytotoxic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. In our review, we describe the ethnopharmacology of different Erythrina species, which correlates with the traditional use of this genus and its reported biological activity. In addition, we discuss the most studied biological activities performed on compounds isolated from this genus, with an attempt to link the effectiveness of the selected compounds with their chemical structure. Aiming that such work can encourage researchers to continue working on this genus unearthing the full potential of their diverse flavonoids as lead compounds targeting serious ailments facing humanity.

Section snippets

Ethnopharmacology

Numerous Erythrina species were used in folk medicine to treat different diseases. In Kenya, the bark E. abyssinica Lam. was used for the treatment of trachoma, and elephantiasis, while the roots for malaria, and syphilis (Ichimaru et al., 1996). In Ghana, E. addisoniae Hutch. & Dalziel stem and root bark were used against dysentery, hepatitis, and rheumatic disorders (Watjen et al., 2008). The bark of E. caffra Thunb. was used traditionally in the treatment of sores, tuberculosis, respiratory

Flavonoid constituents

Genus Erythrina is well known for its bioactive secondary metabolites. Flavonoids represent a large group of metabolites isolated from Erythrina. Their activities vary depending on the structure degree of hydroxylation, substitutions, and conjugation. They occur as aglycones, glycosides, and prenylated derivatives. Flavones, flavonols, flavanones, chalcones, isoflavans, isoflav-3-enes, neoflav-3-enes, isoflavanones, isoflavones, pterocarpans, coumestans, arylcoumarins, coumaronochromones,

Biological studies

In the current section, we will discuss the reported biological activity of the isolated flavonoids from Erythrina, focusing mainly on their role in the management of major health problems commonly found nowadays. Mainly cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, and antiplasmodial activities were reported. Also, the role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity in the antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities will be discussed. Other biological activities were recorded for

Conclusion

Recently there is an increased interest for the use of natural remedies as a safe and affordable medicines for treating various diseases. Medicinal plants serve as a potential source for drug discovery. Plant secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids embrace a vast array of biologically active compounds that plays an important role in the management of various health condition, such as metabolic syndromes, cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and cancers (Kumar and Pandey, 2013;

Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

References (157)

  • A.F. Kamdem Waffo et al.

    Flavones and isoflavones from the west African Fabaceae Erythrina vogelii

    Phytochemistry

    (2006)
  • V. Kuete et al.

    Activity of three cytotoxic isoflavonoids from Erythrina excelsa and Erythrina senegalensis (neobavaisoflavone, sigmoidin H and isoneorautenol) toward multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cells

    Phytomedicine

    (2014)
  • S. Kumar et al.

    The anticancer potential of flavonoids isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina suberosa through induction of apoptosis and inhibition of STAT signaling pathway in human leukemia HL-60 cells

    Chem. Biol. Interact.

    (2013)
  • C.B. Magne Nde et al.

    In vitro estrogenic activity of two major compounds from the stem bark of Erythrina lysistemon (Fabaceae)

    Eur. J. Pharmacol.

    (2012)
  • R.R. Majinda et al.

    Bioactive non-alkaloidal constituents from the genus Erythrina

    Stud. Nat. Prod. Chem.

    (2005)
  • L.A. Mitscher et al.

    Erycristin, a new antimicrobial petrocarpan from Erythrina crista-galli

    Phytochemistry

    (1988)
  • M. Na et al.

    Inhibitory effect of 2-arylbenzofurans from Erythrina addisoniae on protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B

    Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.

    (2007)
  • P.H. Nguyen et al.

    Cytotoxic and PTP1B inhibitory activities from Erythrina abyssinica

    Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.

    (2009)
  • P.H. Nguyen et al.

    Prenylated pterocarpans as bacterial neuraminidase inhibitors

    Bioorg. Med. Chem.

    (2010)
  • P.H. Nguyen et al.

    New 5-deoxyflavonoids and their inhibitory effects on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity

    Bioorg. Med. Chem.

    (2011)
  • P.H. Nguyen et al.

    New prenylated isoflavonoids as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors from Erythrina addisoniae

    Bioorg. Med. Chem.

    (2012)
  • D. Njamen et al.

    Anti-inflammatory activity of erycristagallin, a pterocarpene from Erythrina mildbraedii

    Eur. J. Pharmacol.

    (2003)
  • A.E. Nkengfack et al.

    8-Prenylluteone, a prenylated isoflavone from Erythrina eriotriocha

    Phytochemistry

    (1989)
  • A.E. Nkengfack et al.

    An isoflavanone and a coumestan from Erythrina sigmoidea

    Phytochemistry

    (1994)
  • A.E. Nkengfack et al.

    Prenylated isoflavanone from the roots of Erythrina sigmoidea

    Phytochemistry

    (1994)
  • A.E. Nkengfack et al.

    Prenylated isoflavanone from Erythrina eriotricha

    Phytochemistry

    (1995)
  • A.E. Nkengfack et al.

    Cytotoxic isoflavones from Erythrina indica

    Phytochemistry

    (2001)
  • C.M. Passreiter et al.

    Prenylated flavanone derivatives isolated from Erythrina addisoniae are potent inducers of apoptotic cell death

    Phytochemistry

    (2015)
  • L.A. Rabelo et al.

    Homohesperetin and phaseollidin from Erythrina velutina

    Biochem. Syst. Ecol.

    (2001)
  • T. Rukachaisirikul et al.

    Antibacterial pterocarpans from Erythrina subumbrans

    J. Ethnopharmacol.

    (2007)
  • M.I. Ali et al.

    Flavonoids from Erythrina vogelii (Fabaceae) of Cameroon

    Nat. Prod. Commun.

    (2010)
  • M.S. Ali et al.

    bis-Sigmodiol: a new prenylflavanone dimer from Erythrina sigmoidea Hua (Fabaceae) of Nigeria

    J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res.

    (2011)
  • A.W. Andayi et al.

    Antiplasmodial flavonoids from Erythrina sacleuxii

    Planta Med.

    (2006)
  • N.S. Ashmawy et al.

    Polyphenols from Erythrina crista-galli: structures, molecular docking and phytoestrogenic activity

    Molecules

    (2016)
  • K.K. Atindehou et al.

    Three new prenylated isoflavonoids from the root bark of Erythrina vogelii

    Planta Med.

    (2002)
  • E.Y. Bae et al.

    Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B by prenylated isoflavonoids isolated from the stem bark of Erythrina addisoniae

    Planta Med.

    (2006)
  • L. Biyiti et al.

    Antimicrobial activity of two flavanones isolated from the Cameroonian plant Erythrina sigmoidea

    Planta Med.

    (1988)
  • P. Chauhan et al.

    A new prenylated flavanone from Erythrina suberosa roots

    Planta Med.

    (1987)
  • J.C. Chukwujekwu et al.

    Antibacterial activity of flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina caffra thunb

    Phytother. Res.

    (2011)
  • L. Cui et al.

    Isoprenylated flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina abyssinica

    J. Nat. Prod.

    (2007)
  • L. Cui et al.

    Four new chalcones from Erythrina abyssinica

    Planta Med.

    (2008)
  • L. Cui et al.

    New prenylated flavanones from Erythrina abyssinica with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity

    Planta Med.

    (2010)
  • E. Dagne et al.

    Two bioactive pterocarpans from Erythrina burana

    J. Nat. Prod.

    (1993)
  • J.X. de Araújo-Júnior et al.

    A phytochemical and ethnopharmacological review of the genus Erythrina

  • D.R. de Oliveira et al.

    Flavones from Erythrina falcata are modulators of fear memory

    BMC Complement. Altern. Med.

    (2014)
  • Z.Y. Desta et al.

    New flavonoids from the stem bark of Erythrina caffra Thunb

    Nat. Prod. Res.

    (2014)
  • S. Djiogue et al.

    Isoflavonoids from Erythrina poeppigiana: evaluation of their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor

    J. Nat. Prod.

    (2009)
  • J.H. Donfack et al.

    In vitro hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities of diprenylated isoflavonoids from Erythrina senegalensis (Fabaceae)

    Asian J. Tradit. Med.

    (2008)
  • S. El-Masry et al.

    C-Flavonoidal glycosides from Erythrina caffra flowers

    Nat. Prod. Sci.

    (2010)
  • S. El-Masry et al.

    Constituents of Erythrina caffra stem bark grown in Egypt

    Nat. Prod. Sci.

    (2010)
  • Cited by (51)

    • New isoflavan from Erythrina livingstoniana

      2024, Natural Product Research
    • A review of plant antipathogenic constituents: Source, activity and mechanism

      2022, Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology
      Citation Excerpt :

      Flavonoids contain two phenyl rings which are bound by a 3-carbon bridge. They are divided into flavones, flavonols, flavanones, flavanol, aurone and isoflavones (Fig. 2 (26–35)) (Fahmy et al., 2018; Zhao et al., 2017). Terpenoids (Fig. 2 (14–25)) are mainly referred to hydrocarbon groups, which are polymerized from C5 isoprene or isopentane units (Wang et al., 2021a).

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text