Planta Medica Letters 2015; 2(01): e52-e56
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1558154
Letter
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Protective Effect of Proteins Derived from Seed Explant Cultures of Calotropis procera in a Preclinical Model of Arthritis

Vijay L. Kumar
1   Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
,
Nisha Sharma
1   Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India
,
Márcio V. Ramos
2   Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil
,
Rayanne F. Silva
2   Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil
,
Cristina P. S. Carvalho
2   Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza-Ceará, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Correspondence

Professor Vijay L. Kumar
Department of Pharmacology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Ansari Nagar
New Delhi – 110 029
India
Phone: +91 11 26 59 36 81   
Fax: +91 11 26 58 86 63   

Publication History

received 06 July 2015
revised 17 September 2015

accepted 19 September 2015

Publication Date:
06 November 2015 (online)

 

Abstract

Proteins isolated from the in vitro cultures of callus and roots developed from the germinating seed explants of Calotropis procera were evaluated for their protective effect in a rat model of arthritis at 1 and 5 mg/kg doses in two independent sets of experiments comprising of respective controls. Joint swelling, functional parameters, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, tissue histology, and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in these rats were compared with those treated with the standard anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac on day 3. Both callus and root proteins produced a dose-dependent reduction in joint swelling, and at the 5-mg/kg dose, their inhibitory effect was more pronounced (57 and 55 % inhibition) than that of diclofenac (42 and 46 % in two sets). Both of the protein fractions alleviated functional limitations in arthritic rats and normalized the levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and other biochemical markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, maintained tissue architecture, and suppressed cyclooxygenase-2 expression compared to arthritic controls. This study demonstrates that the proteins derived from the in vitro culture of C. procera explants have potential in the treatment of arthritis.


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Plants have served as living factories for time immemorial to meet the requirement of medicinal agents that have been used in various traditional systems for the prevention and cure of several diseases. Their demand for a medicinal purpose has been met either from wild growing or cultivated plants, and various environmental factors, methods of collection, and processing are well known to result in variability in efficacy and safety of medicinal preparations derived from them [1]. In this regard, their correct identification, documentation, and conservation are important aspects to be considered in order to have a sustainable resource [2]. Thus, growing the medicinal plants in a controlled environment is an alternative option to minimize variability, and plant tissue cultures have been used as a source of pharmacologically active secondary metabolites [3], [4].

Calotropis procera Ait. R. Br., a member of the Apocynaceae family, is a wild-growing plant that has been used for the treatment of various diseases of the liver, abdomen, and those involving inflammation. Different parts of this plant, including its latex, have been shown to possess medicinal properties [5]. Both the non-protein constituents present in the aqueous and organic extracts of latex and the proteins isolated from the latex have been reported to produce anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects in rodent models [6], [7], [8], [9]. Recently, proteins isolated from the callus and roots developed from in vitro explants of the germinating seeds of this plant have also been shown to inhibit an acute inflammatory response [10], [11]. The present study was carried out to investigate the efficacy of these proteins in a preclinical model of monoarthritis.

Monoarthritis was induced by an intra-articular injection of Freundʼs complete adjuvant (FCA) and the effect of callus proteins (CP) and root proteins (RP) was evaluated in two independent sets of experiments. [Fig. 1] shows that FCA produced an increase in joint diameter by 4.61 ± 0.18 and 4.40 ± 0.26 mm in two sets on day 3 against a marginal increase observed in the normal control (NC) group, where normal saline was injected into the joint. Treatment of arthritic rats with CP and RP produced a dose-dependent reduction in joint swelling at 1 and 5 mg/kg doses. These proteins have been reported earlier to inhibit edema formation, mediator release, and neutrophil migration in rat models of acute inflammation [10], [11]. As functional limitations of the joint and hyperalgesia are common complaints in arthritis, stair climbing ability (SCA), motility, and dorsal flexion pain scores (DFP) were evaluated in the arthritic rats. [Table 1] shows that the arthritic rats experienced difficulty in climbing and moving (median score 0 against 3 for climbing and 2 for motility in the NC group in both sets) and also experienced pain on flexion of the inflamed limb (median DFP score 9 and 10 in sets I and II against 0 in the NC group). Both CP and RP improved joint functions and ameliorated hyperalgesia, and their effect was comparable to that of diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in arthritis [12]. Such a protection has earlier been reported for proteins derived from the latex of this plant though their protein profile is distinct from CP and RP and for the dried latex and its methanol extract [10], [13], [14], [15]. Like latex proteins, both CP and RP have also been reported to exhibit antinociceptive property [9], [10]. Their antihyperalgesic effect observed in the present study was accompanied by the normalization of levels of oxidative stress markers and a reduction in the levels of inflammatory mediators, namely nitrite and myeloperoxidase (MPO), compared to arthritic controls ([Fig. 2]). MPO, a hemeprotein, is a well-known marker of neutrophils that participates in both primary host defense and cellular signaling. Along with nitric oxide (NO), it is well known to affect vascular events in an inflammatory response. Therapeutic strategies aiming at restoring redox homeostasis, removing MPO, and inhibiting NO generation have been considered promising tools in inhibiting an inflammatory response [16], [17], [18].

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Effect of CP and RP on the increase in joint diameter in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Effect of CP and RP on tissue levels of GSH (A), TBARS (B), nitrite (C), and MPO (D) in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.

Table 1 Effect of CP and RP on functional parameters in monoarthritic rats.

Treatment groups

DFP

Motility

SCA

Set I

Set II

Set I

Set II

Set I

Set II

Set I and Set II were treated with CP and RP, respectively. DFP: dorsal flexion pain; SCA: stair climbing ability. Values given are median scores (n = 6). #P < 0.05 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 compared to FC

NC

0

0

2

2

3

3

FC

9#

10#

0#

0#

0#

0#

CP/RP 1 mg/kg

5*

5*

1.5*

1.5*

2*

2*

CP/RP 5 mg/kg

3*

5*

2*

2*

3*

3*

Diclo 5 mg/kg

5*

6*

2*

2*

3*

2*

Inflammation of the joint as seen in arthritis is driven through the excessive production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Their role in the perpetuation of inflammation and pain is evident from the fact that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and TNF-α blockers provide symptomatic relief from pain and stiffness [12], [19]. In the present study, a marked increase in the level of TNF-α and PGE2 was observed in arthritic rats at the time of peak joint swelling, a time that coincides with maximum hyperalgesia and loss of function. Treatment of arthritic rats with both CP and RP brought down the levels of these mediators ([Fig. 3]). The protection afforded by these proteins was comparable to that of diclofenac, a drug well known to exert its action by inhibiting cyclooxygenase and resultant prostaglandin synthesis [20]. The protective effect of these proteins was also evident from the histological analysis of the joint where a marked reduction in edema and neutrophilic infiltration was observed and from immunohistochemical analysis where these proteins suppressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression ([Fig. 4]). As COX-2 is an inducible enzyme that brings about the synthesis of PGE2, its inhibition by CP and RP is an important protective mechanism in arthritis.

Zoom Image
Fig. 3 Effect of CP and RP on tissue levels of PGE2 and TNF-α in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.
Zoom Image
Fig. 4 Effect of CP and RP on joint tissue histology (AE, magnification 100×) and COX-2 expression (A’E’, magnification 400×) in monoarthritic rats on day 3. A and A’: normal control; B and B’: FCA control; C and C’: CP 5 mg/kg; D and D’: RP 5 mg/kg; E and E’: diclofenac 5 mg/kg.

Thus, our study shows that proteins derived from the callus and roots developed from the germinating seed explants of C. procera have potential in the treatment of arthritis.

Materials and Methods

Seeds collected from a C. procera plant growing in Fortaleza, Brazil (voucher specimen No. 32 663, Prisco Bezerra herbarium of the Federal University of Ceará) were germinated and the in vitro grown plantlets were used as a source for hypocotyl and cotyledon explants that were induced to develop into callus and roots, respectively, and freeze-dried. Proteins were obtained from the freeze-dried material by homogenizing and stirring it in 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5) containing 100 mM NaCl followed by centrifugation to obtain a soluble fraction that was dialyzed against distilled water using the membrane with a cutoff of 8000 Da and freeze-dried. The details of the procedure and protein profile of CP and RP as revealed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been reported earlier [10].

Wistar rats of either sex (150–180 g) were trained to climb a staircase having three steps (5, 10, and 15 cm) for a week as described earlier [13]. The experiments were carried out as per protocol approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (645/IAEC/11 dated 30/1/2012). Joint inflammation was induced by an intra-articular injection of 0.1 ml of FCA in the left ankle joint in two sets of experiments (one each for CP and RP comprising of five groups, n = 6 per group) having independent normal and arthritic controls (NC and FC). Rats were treated with 1 and 5 mg/kg of CP in set I and RP in set II, and diclofenac (5 mg/kg; Diclo) in both sets administered intravenously and orally 30 min and 1 h before inducing arthritis, respectively, and then daily. Parameters like joint diameter, SCA, motility, and DFP were recorded before inducing arthritis and then daily for 3 days [13], [14]. Joint swelling was expressed as an increase in joint diameter in mm on day 3 while SCA was scored 1, 2, or 3, motility was scored 0, 1, or 2, and DFP was scored 0 to 10 based on squeaking and leg withdrawal when tested five times as described earlier [13]. The animals were sacrificed and the joint tissue was preserved for biochemical estimations at − 80 °C while histological and immunohistochemical analyses for COX-2 expression were carried out in a separate set of experiments [21].

Reduced glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, an index of lipid peroxidation), nitrite (an index of nitric oxide production), and MPO were measured by the methods described earlier [22], [23], [24], [25]. The tissue levels of TNF-α and PGE2 were measured by ELISA kits (Diaclone and Cayman Chemical Company).

Values for the increase in joint diameter and biochemical parameters are given as mean ± SEM and were analyzed by ANOVA followed by a post hoc test (LSD). Functional parameters are given as a median score and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison.


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Acknowledgements

Part of this study has been supported by grants from Concelho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). This study is part of the consortium “Molecular Biotechnology of Plant Latex”.


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Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

  • References

  • 1 Gad HA, El-Ahmady SH, Abou-Shoer MI, Al-Aziz MM. Application of chemometrics in authentication of herbal medicines: a review. Phytochem Anal 2013; 24: 1-24
  • 2 Hedberg I. Botanical methods in ethnopharmacology and the need for conservation of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 1993; 38: 121-128
  • 3 Canter PH, Thomas H, Ernst E. Bringing medicinal plants into cultivation: opportunities and challenges for biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23: 180-185
  • 4 Bourgaud F, Gravot A, Milesi S, Gontier E. Production of plant secondary metabolites: a historical perspective. Plant Sci 2001; 161: 839-851
  • 5 Kumar VL, Arya S. Medicinal uses and pharmacological properties of Calotropis procera . In: Govil JN, editor Recent progress in medicinal plants, Vol. 11. Houston, TX: Studium Press; 2006: 373-388
  • 6 Kumar VL, Basu N. Anti-inflammatory activity of latex of Calotropis procera . J Ethnopharmacol 1994; 44: 123-125
  • 7 Dewan S, Sangraula H, Kumar VL. Preliminary studies on the analgesic activity of latex of Calotropis procera . J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 73: 307-311
  • 8 Alencar NM, Oliveira JS, Mesquita RO, Lima MW, Vale MR, Etchells JP, Freitas CD, Ramos MV. Pro- and anti-inflammatory activities of the latex from Calotropis procera (Ait) R.Br. are triggered by compounds fractionated by dialysis. Inflamm Res 2006; 55: 559-564
  • 9 Soares PM, Lima SR, Matos SG, Andrade MM, Patrocínio MC, de Freitas CD, Ramos MV, Criddle DN, Cardi BA, Carvalho KM, Assreuy AM, Vasconcelos SM. Antinociceptive activity of Calotropis procera latex in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2005; 99: 125-129
  • 10 Teixeira FM, Ramos MV, Soares AA, Oliveira RSB, Almeida-Filho LCP, Oliveira JS, Marinho-Filho JDB, Carvalho CPS. In vitro tissue culture of the medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to produce pharmacologically active proteins from plant latex. Process Biochem 2011; 46: 1118-1124
  • 11 Kumar VL, Sharma N, da Costa Souza IC, Ramos MV, da Silveira Carvalho CP. Proteins derived from in vitro culture of the callus and roots of Calotropis procera ameliorate acute inflammation in the rat paw. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2015; 175: 1724-1731
  • 12 Crofford LJ. Use of NSAIDs in treating arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2013; 15 (Suppl. 03) S2
  • 13 Kumar VL, Chaudhary P, Ramos MV, Mohan M, Matos MPV. Protective effect of proteins derived from the latex of Calotropis procera against inflammatory hyperalgesia in monoarthritic rats. Phytother Res 2011; 25: 1336-1341
  • 14 Kumar VL, Roy S. Protective effect of latex of Calotropis procera in Freundʼs complete adjuvant induced monoarthritis. Phytother Res 2009; 23: 1-5
  • 15 Kumar VL, Chaudhary P, Oliveira RM, Ramos MV. Calotropis procera latex proteins ameliorate functional limitations associated with adjuvant induced inflammation in rat. Musculoskelet Biol 2014; 1: 1
  • 16 Lau D, Baldus S. Myeloperoxidase and its contributory role in inflammatory vascular disease. Pharmacol Ther 2006; 111: 16-26
  • 17 Salvemini D, Wang ZQ, Wyatt PS, Bourdon DM, Marino MH, Manning PT, Currie MG. Nitric oxide: a key mediator with early and late phase of carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation. Br J Pharmacol 1996; 118: 829-838
  • 18 Kunsch C, Sikorski JA, Sundell CL. Oxidative stress and the use of antioxidants for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Cur Med Chem Immunol Endocr Metab Agents 2005; 5: 249-258
  • 19 Choy EH, Panayi GS. Cytokine pathways and joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med 2001; 344: 907-916
  • 20 Gan TJ. Diclofenac: an update on its mechanism of action and safety profile. Curr Med Res Opin 2010; 26: 1715-1731
  • 21 Guruprasad B, Chaudhary P, Choedon T, Kumar VL. Artesunate ameliorates functional limitations in Freundʼs complete adjuvant-induced monoarthritis in rat by maintaining oxidative homeostasis and inhibiting COX-2 expression. Inflammation 2015; 38: 1028-1035
  • 22 Ellman GL. Tissue sulfhydryl groups. Arch Biochem Biophys 1959; 82: 70-77
  • 23 Ohkawa H, Ohishi N, Yagi K. Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem 1979; 95: 351-358
  • 24 Ikeda U, Kanbe T, Shimada K. Adrenomedullin increases inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated with interleukin-1. Hypertension 1996; 27: 1240-1244
  • 25 Bradley PP, Priebat DA, Christensen RD, Rothstein G. Measurement of cutaneous inflammation: estimation of neutrophil content with an enzyme marker. J Invest Dermatol 1982; 78: 206-209

Correspondence

Professor Vijay L. Kumar
Department of Pharmacology
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Ansari Nagar
New Delhi – 110 029
India
Phone: +91 11 26 59 36 81   
Fax: +91 11 26 58 86 63   

  • References

  • 1 Gad HA, El-Ahmady SH, Abou-Shoer MI, Al-Aziz MM. Application of chemometrics in authentication of herbal medicines: a review. Phytochem Anal 2013; 24: 1-24
  • 2 Hedberg I. Botanical methods in ethnopharmacology and the need for conservation of medicinal plants. J Ethnopharmacol 1993; 38: 121-128
  • 3 Canter PH, Thomas H, Ernst E. Bringing medicinal plants into cultivation: opportunities and challenges for biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23: 180-185
  • 4 Bourgaud F, Gravot A, Milesi S, Gontier E. Production of plant secondary metabolites: a historical perspective. Plant Sci 2001; 161: 839-851
  • 5 Kumar VL, Arya S. Medicinal uses and pharmacological properties of Calotropis procera . In: Govil JN, editor Recent progress in medicinal plants, Vol. 11. Houston, TX: Studium Press; 2006: 373-388
  • 6 Kumar VL, Basu N. Anti-inflammatory activity of latex of Calotropis procera . J Ethnopharmacol 1994; 44: 123-125
  • 7 Dewan S, Sangraula H, Kumar VL. Preliminary studies on the analgesic activity of latex of Calotropis procera . J Ethnopharmacol 2000; 73: 307-311
  • 8 Alencar NM, Oliveira JS, Mesquita RO, Lima MW, Vale MR, Etchells JP, Freitas CD, Ramos MV. Pro- and anti-inflammatory activities of the latex from Calotropis procera (Ait) R.Br. are triggered by compounds fractionated by dialysis. Inflamm Res 2006; 55: 559-564
  • 9 Soares PM, Lima SR, Matos SG, Andrade MM, Patrocínio MC, de Freitas CD, Ramos MV, Criddle DN, Cardi BA, Carvalho KM, Assreuy AM, Vasconcelos SM. Antinociceptive activity of Calotropis procera latex in mice. J Ethnopharmacol 2005; 99: 125-129
  • 10 Teixeira FM, Ramos MV, Soares AA, Oliveira RSB, Almeida-Filho LCP, Oliveira JS, Marinho-Filho JDB, Carvalho CPS. In vitro tissue culture of the medicinal shrub Calotropis procera to produce pharmacologically active proteins from plant latex. Process Biochem 2011; 46: 1118-1124
  • 11 Kumar VL, Sharma N, da Costa Souza IC, Ramos MV, da Silveira Carvalho CP. Proteins derived from in vitro culture of the callus and roots of Calotropis procera ameliorate acute inflammation in the rat paw. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2015; 175: 1724-1731
  • 12 Crofford LJ. Use of NSAIDs in treating arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2013; 15 (Suppl. 03) S2
  • 13 Kumar VL, Chaudhary P, Ramos MV, Mohan M, Matos MPV. Protective effect of proteins derived from the latex of Calotropis procera against inflammatory hyperalgesia in monoarthritic rats. Phytother Res 2011; 25: 1336-1341
  • 14 Kumar VL, Roy S. Protective effect of latex of Calotropis procera in Freundʼs complete adjuvant induced monoarthritis. Phytother Res 2009; 23: 1-5
  • 15 Kumar VL, Chaudhary P, Oliveira RM, Ramos MV. Calotropis procera latex proteins ameliorate functional limitations associated with adjuvant induced inflammation in rat. Musculoskelet Biol 2014; 1: 1
  • 16 Lau D, Baldus S. Myeloperoxidase and its contributory role in inflammatory vascular disease. Pharmacol Ther 2006; 111: 16-26
  • 17 Salvemini D, Wang ZQ, Wyatt PS, Bourdon DM, Marino MH, Manning PT, Currie MG. Nitric oxide: a key mediator with early and late phase of carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation. Br J Pharmacol 1996; 118: 829-838
  • 18 Kunsch C, Sikorski JA, Sundell CL. Oxidative stress and the use of antioxidants for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Cur Med Chem Immunol Endocr Metab Agents 2005; 5: 249-258
  • 19 Choy EH, Panayi GS. Cytokine pathways and joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med 2001; 344: 907-916
  • 20 Gan TJ. Diclofenac: an update on its mechanism of action and safety profile. Curr Med Res Opin 2010; 26: 1715-1731
  • 21 Guruprasad B, Chaudhary P, Choedon T, Kumar VL. Artesunate ameliorates functional limitations in Freundʼs complete adjuvant-induced monoarthritis in rat by maintaining oxidative homeostasis and inhibiting COX-2 expression. Inflammation 2015; 38: 1028-1035
  • 22 Ellman GL. Tissue sulfhydryl groups. Arch Biochem Biophys 1959; 82: 70-77
  • 23 Ohkawa H, Ohishi N, Yagi K. Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal Biochem 1979; 95: 351-358
  • 24 Ikeda U, Kanbe T, Shimada K. Adrenomedullin increases inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated with interleukin-1. Hypertension 1996; 27: 1240-1244
  • 25 Bradley PP, Priebat DA, Christensen RD, Rothstein G. Measurement of cutaneous inflammation: estimation of neutrophil content with an enzyme marker. J Invest Dermatol 1982; 78: 206-209

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Effect of CP and RP on the increase in joint diameter in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.
Zoom Image
Fig. 2 Effect of CP and RP on tissue levels of GSH (A), TBARS (B), nitrite (C), and MPO (D) in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.
Zoom Image
Fig. 3 Effect of CP and RP on tissue levels of PGE2 and TNF-α in monoarthritic rats on day 3. The results are given as mean ± SEM (n = 6). ##P < 0.001 compared to NC, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.001 compared to FC.
Zoom Image
Fig. 4 Effect of CP and RP on joint tissue histology (AE, magnification 100×) and COX-2 expression (A’E’, magnification 400×) in monoarthritic rats on day 3. A and A’: normal control; B and B’: FCA control; C and C’: CP 5 mg/kg; D and D’: RP 5 mg/kg; E and E’: diclofenac 5 mg/kg.