Protective effect of Heliotropium foertherianum (Boraginaceae) folk remedy and its active compound, rosmarinic acid, against a Pacific ciguatoxin.
BACKGROUND
Senescent leaves of Heliotropium foertherianum Diane & Hilger (Boraginaceae) are traditionally used in the Pacific region to treat Ciguatera Fish Poisoning. This plant contains rosmarinic acid that is known for its multiple biological activities. In the present study, H. foertherianum aqueous extract, rosmarinic acid and its derivatives were evaluated for their capacity to reduce the effect of ciguatoxins.


METHODS
Aqueous extract of H. foertherianum leaves was prepared and studied for its effects against a Pacific ciguatoxin (P-CTX-1B) in the neuroblastoma cell assay and the receptor binding assay. Rosmarinic acid and six derivatives were also evaluated by means of these bioassays. For this purpose, we have developed an improved synthetic route for caffeic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-phenethyl ester (CADPE).


RESULTS
Both the aqueous extract of H. foertherianum leaves and rosmarinic acid showed inhibitory activities against a Pacific ciguatoxin in the above bioassays. Among all the molecules that were evaluated, rosmarinic acid was the most active compound.


CONCLUSIONS
These results confirm further the potential of H. foertherianum in the treatment of Ciguatera Fish Poisoning.
Université de Toulouse, UPS, UMR-152 (Pharma-Dev), 118, rte de Narbonne, cedex 9, F-31062 Toulouse, France.
Fanny
F
Rossi
Valérie
V
Jullian
Ralph
R
Pawlowiez
Shilpa
S
Kumar-Roiné
Mohamed
M
Haddad
H Taiana
HT
Darius
Nabila
N
Gaertner-Mazouni
Mireille
M
Chinain
Dominique
D
Laurent
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D036841:Ciguatera Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002922:Ciguatoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D002934:Cinnamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053630:Depsides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D028162:Heliotropium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma; D010139:Pacific Islands; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid
D002922:Ciguatoxins; D002934:Cinnamates; D053630:Depsides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000097123:Rosmarinic Acid; C454647:ciguatoxin 1B (CTX 1B)