Review Article

[Retracted] A Review of the Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany, Toxicology, and Pharmacological Potentials of Crescentia cujete L. (Bignoniaceae)

Table 3

Established literature reports on the pharmacological potentials of Crescentia cujete Linn.

S/NPart usedExtract typeType of assayConcentrations testedPharmacological activityCountry of studyReference

1FruitDecoction, crude ethanolic, aqueous and fractions (hexane, and ethyl acetate)In vitro (purgative test)5000, 10000, 20000 ppmAnthelminticPhilippines[13]
In vitro (TLC)NSAntioxidant
In vitro (BSLT)10, 100, 1000 ppmExtract showed LC50 lower than 1000 indicating bioactivity and toxicity to the cells

2FruitEthanol (crude), decoctions and fractions (aqueous, ethyl acetate, hexane)In vitro (α-amylase assay)100, 1000, 10000 ppmHexane fraction exhibited inhibition above average (55%) at the highest concentration, while other (extracts aqueous and ethanol) at 10000 ppm showed moderate antidiabetic effect.Philippines[46]
In vivo (alloxan –induced diabetic mice)5000, 10000 ppmSimilar trend of the extracts (hexane, ethanol and aqueous) reduces the diabetic blood glucose level of the Mus musculus indicating an hypoglycemic potential

3LeavesEthanolIn vivo (alloxan –induced diabetic mice)2500, 5000, 10000 ppmAntidiabetic effect by reducing the blood glucose level of the diabetes mice toward controlPhilippines[37]
FruitFresh and boiled (decoction)In vivo (alloxan –induced diabetic mice)NSLowers the blood glucose level of the diabetic mice comparable to that of the control (metformin) indicating hypoglycemic effectPhilippines[47]

4Leaves and stem barkEthanol (crude) and fractionsIn vitro (DPPH, FRP, TAC)20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200 μg/mLScavenges the activities of the tested radicals indicating antioxidative effectBangladesh[40]

5Leaves, bark and fruitsEthanol (100, 50%), aqueousIn vitro (DPPH)31.25, 62.5, 125, 250, 500 μg/mLLeaves (particularly 100% ethanol) and bark established good antioxidant activities (IC50 within the tested concentrations)Malaysia[10]
In vitro (BSLT and ASLA)1.953, 3.907, 7.813, 15.625, 31.25, 62.50, 125, 250, 500, 1000 μg/mLAll parts (leaves > bark > fruits) of the plant extracted with three types of solvents are bioactive and cytotoxic (exhibited LC50 lower than 1000)

6Leaves and barkEthanol (crude) and fractions (chloroform, pet. Ether)In vivo (HRBC membrane stabilization method)100 and 1000 µg/mLAt the highest concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, the crude ethanol extract of leaves and bark produced 53.86 and 61.85 inhibition of RBC hemolysis better than the fractions suggestive of good anti-inflammatory effectBangladesh[48]
In vitro (disc diffusion method)100 and 200 µg/discExcellent antibacterial effect (particularly from the chloroform fraction)

7LeavesEthanol, chloroform, CCl4, petroleum etherIn vitro (agar-cup method and macro-dilution broth technique)1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 g/mLEthanol was most active against 5 of the bacteria strains and also revealed the lowest MIC (2.5 mg/mL) and MBC (4.5 mg/mL) against B. cereus revealing the antibacterial activity of the plantBangladesh[7]

8Leaves (latex)EthanolIn vitro (agar diffusion method)NSActive against E. coli indicating its antibacterial activityPeru[5]

9FruitNSIn vitro (disc test)0.165, 0.078, 0.313, 0.625, 1.250, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00 mg/mLThe extract inhibited the growth of the bacterium strain (Vibrio harveyi) at higher concentrations (0.313–10.00) suggesting that the MIC is 0.313 mg/mL, thus indicative of antibacterial activityIndonesia[49]
Methanol (crude) and fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate)In vitro (agar diffusion)10.00 mg/mLMethanol was most active against Vibrio harveyi with 17.29 mm inhibition zoneIndonesia[34]

10FruitEthanolIn vivo (acute toxicity evaluation)OECD 425 protocolSafe at 2000 mg/kg bodyweightIndia[51]
In vitro100, 200 and 400 mg/kgAt 400 mg/kg body weight, it neutralized lethality induced by 2LD50 and 3LD50 of the venom (in-vivo neutralization) while neutrality was achieved at 200 and 400 mg/kg (in vitro). Haemorrhage produced by venom (in rats) was inhibited at 200 mg/kg indicating better antivenom activity

11LeavesEthanol, ethyl acetateIn vivo (Excisional wound)NSExtracts enhances the rate of healing. On the 9th day, a 50 and 65% healing with ethanol and ethyl acetate respectively achieved. This was improved by the 15th day with both extracts achieving 100% healing indicating good wound-healing capabilityIndonesia[9]

12Stem bark, leavesAqueous, ethanolIn vitro ((L-J) medium and Middlebrook 7H9 broth in BacT/ALERT 3D system)2%, 4% v/vWhile all the extracts were able to inhibit the different strains of M. tuberculosis with percentage inhibition above 50%, the aqueous stem bark was reported to have the most effective anti-tubercular potentialIndia[50]

13LeavesMethanol (crude) and fractions (hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol)In vitro (DPPH, FRAP methods)15.625, 31.25, 62.50, 125, 250, 500 µg/mLThe extracts revealed strong antioxidant activity with EC50 within the tested concentration except hexane fractionNigeria[8]
In vivo (CAT, SOD, LPO)200 and 400 mg/kgAt both concentrations, the extracts dose-dependently reversed the activities of the enzymes to normal. Additionally, at the highest concentration of 400 mg/kg, the extracts reduced the increased level of malondialdehyde (brought about by induced oxidative stress) to normal. The reduction is comparable to the control
In vivo (acute toxicity test)2000 and 5000 mg/kg body weightNo signs of toxicity in the animals at the tested concentrations, indicating the LD50 is above 5000 mg/kg, hence safe

14LeavesMethanolIn vitro (DPPH and ABTS)1, 3, 9, 27, 81, 243 µg/mLShowed good antioxidant capacity with an IC50 of 34.01 (DPPH) and 3.80 µg/mL (ABTS). The activity is attributed to inherent phenolicsBrazil[1]

15FruitEthanol (33%)In vitro (AIT and LPT test)0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 10.0% w/vThe extract caused an 100% mortality of Rhipicephalus microplus at the highest concentration of 10% w/v after 24 hr depicting an LC50 of 5.9% and LC95 between 5.6 and 6.2% indicative of its acaricidal effectBrazil[29]

16LeavesEthanolIn vitro (SH-SY5Y cell induced by MPTP on MTT SRB test)10, 20, 40, 80, 160m and 320 µg/mLThe extract depicted an IC50 of 159.29 µg/mL (MTT) and 162.5 µg/mL with Trypan blue exclusion assay thus afforded a good cytotoxic and neuroprotectionIndia[52]

17FruitMethanolIn vitro (CAM assay)0.12, 0.24, 0.35, and 0.47 g/mLThe extracts at all concentrations were able to reduce significantly CAM vasculature though the effect was more pronounced at 0.35 and 0.47 concentrations, thus indicative of the antiangiogenic effect.Philippines[53]

18FruitIn vitro (purgative assay)Philippines[13]

19StembarkEthanol (70%)In vitro (HRBC membrane stabilization method)50, 100, 250, 500, 1000 µg/mLActivity better than diclofenac exhibiting an in IC50 value of 5.62 µg/mL reflecting commendable anti-inflammatory activityGhana[54]
In vivo (carrageenan induction on chicks)10, 30, 100, 300 mg/kg bodyweightRevealed an EC50 value of 23.30 mg/kg b.w. Indicating good anti-inflammatory potentials

NS: not stated; DPPH: 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical; ABTS: 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid; FRP: Ferric reducing power (FRP); TAC: Total antioxidant capacity; TLC: Thin layer chromatography; BSLT: Brine shrimp lethality test; ASLA: Artemia salina lethality assay; HRBC: human red blood cell (HRBC); OECD: Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; LJ: Lowenstein Jensen; CCl4: Carbon tetrachloride; CAT: Catalase; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; LPO: Lipid peroxidation; FRAP: Ferric reducing antioxidant power; AIT: Adult immersion test; LPT: Larval packed test; MPTP: 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; CAM: Chorioallantoic Membrane.