Tumor resistance to platinum-based drugs has been an obstacle to the treatment of ovarian cancer. Extract of the plant Rauwolfia vomitoria has long been used by cancer patients. However, there have not been systematic studies of its anticancer activity.
Herbalism has become the main stream throughout the world. This is due in part to the recognition of the value of traditional medical systems, particularly of the Asian origin, and the identification of medicinal plants from indigenous pharmacopeias shown to have significant healing power, either in their natural state or as the source of new pharmaceuticals. Generally, these formulations are considered moderate in efficacy and thus less toxic than most synthetic pharmaceutical agents.
One of such herbs in use is Rauwolfia vomitoria belonging to the family Apocynaceae. Reports show that this herb lowers blood pressure and possesses analgesic, haematinic, and anticonvulsant properties.
Antioxidant and antipsychotic properties have also been reported with another study reporting improvement of immunity [8]. Rauwolfia is reported to contain indole alkaloids which includes yohimbine, reserpine, rescinnamine, raucaffricine, ajmaline, and ajmalicine .These may be responsible for the different properties exhibited by the plant.
Common herbs rich in essential oils (sage, rosemary, and thyme) and essential oils extracted from these herbs and other plants (oils of sage, rosemary, juniper, pine, dwarf pine, turpentine, and eucalyptus) as well as their monoterpene components (thujone, eucalyptol, camphor, borneol, thymol, α-pinene, β-pinene, bornyl acetate, and menthol) were found to inhibit bone resorption when added to the food of rats. Pine oil, used as a representative essential oil, protects an osteoporosis model, the aged ovariectomized rat, from bone loss, while the monoterpenes borneol, thymol, and camphor are directly inhibitory in the osteoclast resorption pit assay.
Bones are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They are dense connective tissues that function to move, support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, and store minerals. Because bones come in variety of shapes and have complex internal and external structures, they are lightweight, yet strong and hard, in addition to fulfilling their many other functions. One of the types of tissues that makes up bone is the mineralized osseous tissues, also called bone tissue, that gives it rigidity and a honeycomb-like three-dimensional internal structure. Other types of tissues found in bones include marrow, endosteum and periosteum, nerves, blood vessels, and cartilage. There are 206 bones in the adult human body and 270 in an infant.
Bone contains an extracellular mineralized matrix and a number of different cell types, including osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. The bone matrix consists of a ground substance in which numerous collagen fibers are embedded, usually ordered in bone in parallel arrays. In mature bone, the matrix is moderately hydrated, and 10%–20% of its mass is water. Of its dry weight, 60%–70% is made up of inorganic, mineral salts (mainly microcrystalline, calcium and phosphate hydroxides, hydroxyapatite), 30%–40% is collagen and the remainser is noncollagenous protein and carbohydrate, mainly conjugated as glycoproteins. The proportions of these various components vary with age, location, and metabolic status.
Rauwolfia vomitoria has been used for centuries in India and Africa for the treatment of a variety of disorders including snake bites, insect bites and stings, insomnia, and maniac tendency, but the safety and efficacy of its use in pregnancy have not been established. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the teratogenic effect of crude ethanolic root bark and leaf extracts of Rauwolfia vomitoria on the histology of developing femur bone to assess skeletal development.
Objective: In an effort to enhance the effectiveness of platinum-based drugs, we investigated the anticancer effect of a Rauwolfia vomitoria extract (Rau), both alone and in combination with carboplatin (Cp).
Methods: In vitro cytotoxicity and colony formation were evaluated in several ovarian cancer cell lines. In vivo effects were evaluated in an intraperitoneal ovarian cancer mouse model. The combination of Rau and Cp was assessed using Chou-Talalay's constant ratio design and median effect analysis based on the isobologram principle to determine the combination index values.
Results: Rau decreased cell growth in all 3 tested ovarian cancer cell lines dose dependently and completely inhibited formation of colonies in soft agar. Apoptosis was induced in a time- and dose-dependent manner and was the predominant form of Rau-induced cell death.
Rauvolfia vomitoria is a small tree or large shrub, growing to 8 m (26 ft) high. The branches grow in whorls, and the leaves grow from swollen nodes in groups of three. The leaf blades are broadly lanceolate or elliptical, tapering to a long point. The small, fragrant flowers are followed by globular red fruit. All parts of the plant, except the mature wood, contain latex.
Ecology
This is a fast-growing tree that produces large quantities of seeds which are dispersed by birds. The seedlings and saplings are tolerant of shade and the tree regenerates after cutting or burning, soon forming dense thickets.
Uses
Rauvolfia vomitoria has been used across its range in traditional medicine. A decoction or extract of the roots is used for diarrhea, jaundice, venereal disease, rheumatism, snake-bites, colic, fever, to calm people with anxiety or epilepsy, and to lower blood pressure. The macerated root, or sometimes the pulped fruit, is used for a variety of skin conditions, and the bark, twigs, and leaves are used as a purgative and emetic.
Every part of the tree is toxic,and this is put to use with a paste made from the pulverized root being coated on arrow tips and spears for hunting, and by being mixed. with cassava meal to make rat poison.
The plant contains a number of chemical compounds used by the pharmaceutical industry; these include reserpine, reserpinine, deserpidine,
ajmalicine, and ajmaline. In the 1970s, the bark from stems and roots was harvested from which reserpine was extracted and sold for human use. Reserpine is still available, but has been largely replaced by less toxic products.2,6-Dimethoxybenzoquinone is a benzoquinone found in R. vomitoria
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