Carpesterol- A novel phytosterol obtained from the plants of the family solanaceae with evaluation of antineoplastic activity

Prakash Pandey*1, Ashish Garg2, Ajay Shukla3

ABSTRACT

Solanaceae family commonly known as Black nightshade are extensively used in traditional medicine in India and other parts of the world to cure liver disorders, chronic skin ailments (psoriasis and ringworm), inflammatory conditions, painful periods, fevers, diarrhea, eye diseases, hydrophobia, etc. It has been found that Solanum nigrum contains alkaloid, steroid glycoalkaloids, steroidal saponins and glycoprotein, exhibiting anti-tumor activity. In Indian traditional medicine, the plant is used as a hepatoprotective agent. In this review, we have explored the phyto-pharmacological properties of the Solanaceae family plant and compiled its vast pharmacological applications to comprehend and synthesize the subject of its potential image of multipurpose medicinal agent. The review covers the simple sterols, the steroidal sapogenins and the steroidal alkaloids found in these plants, and their metabolism as well as biosynthesis is considered. Solanocarpidine and a phyto-sterol known as Carpesterol are also present. Potassium nitrate, a fatty acid, a resinous and phenolic substance, diosgenin and sitosterol are present. Seed oil contains Carpesterol. The presence of Solanine has been reported in roots, leaves and fruits. Air dried leaves contain 0.32 % of total alkaloids. Diosgenin, lanosterol, sitosterol. Solasonnine, solamargine and solasidine have been isolated from the plant. A glycoalkaloids, solasonine on hydrolysis afforded solasodine, sugars, glucose, galactose and rhamnose.Innovative research efforts to define the advantage of traditional system of medicine with respect to their safety and efficacy could result in a better utilization of these complementary systems of medicine. The roots and fruits are used for medicinal purpose. The herb is useful both internally as well as externally. The apoptotic effects and the amount of DNA fragmentation increased in a dose dependant manner after the treatment with the protein. Authors believe this glycoprotein as a natural anticancer agent due to its potential to induce apoptosis in Journal of Medical Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences (February_2016); 1-10 2 the HTC-29 cell. Its antitumor property can be attributed to its immunomodulatory ability, which alters the host’s immune response

Keywords: Carpesterol, Solanum nigrum, Solanum indicum, Solanaceae, antitumor activity.