Nanosizing Cynomorium: Thumbs up for Potential Antifungal Applications

Cynomorium coccineum L., the desert thumb, is a rather exotic, parasitic plant unable to engage in photosynthesis, yet rich in a variety of unique compounds with a wide spectrum of biological applications. Whilst extraction, separation and isolation of such compounds is time consuming, the particular properties of the plant, such as dryness, hardness and lack of chlorophyll, render it a prime target for possible nanosizing. The entire plant, the external layer (coat) as well as its peel, are readily milled and high pressure homogenized to yield small, mostly uniform spherical particles with diameters in the range of 300 to 600 nm. The best quality of particles is obtained for the processed entire plant. Based on initial screens for biological activity, it seems that these particles are particularly active against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, whilst no activity could be observed against the model nematode Steinernema feltiae. This activity is particularly pronounced in the case of the external layer, whilst the peeled part does not seem to inhibit growth of C. albicans. Thanks to the ease of sample preparation, the good quality of the nanosuspension obtained, and the interesting activity of this natural product, nanosized coats of Cynomorium may well provide a lead for future development and applications as “green” materials in the field of medicine, but also environmentally, for instance in agriculture.

[1]  M. Montenarh,et al.  Nature's Hat-trick: Can we use sulfur springs as ecological source for materials with agricultural and medical applications? , 2017 .

[2]  J. Handzlik,et al.  Natural selenium particles from Staphylococcus carnosus: Hazards or particles with particular promise? , 2017, Journal of hazardous materials.

[3]  A. Argiolas,et al.  Biological Activities and Nutraceutical Potentials of Water Extracts from Different Parts of Cynomorium Coccineum L. (Maltese Mushroom) , 2016 .

[4]  J. Handzlik,et al.  Turning Waste into Value: Nanosized Natural Plant Materials of Solanum incanum L. and Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir with Promising Antimicrobial Activities , 2016, Pharmaceutics.

[5]  C. Jacob,et al.  Nematicidal and antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of 17 plants, of importance in ethnopharmacology, obtained from the Arabian Peninsula , 2016, Journal of intercultural ethnopharmacology.

[6]  G. Kirsch,et al.  TOGO TO GO: PRODUCTS AND COMPOUNDS DERIVED FROM LOCAL PLANTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES ENDEMIC IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA , 2015, African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines.

[7]  H. Steinbrenner,et al.  Towards identifying novel anti-Eimeria agents: trace elements, vitamins, and plant-based natural products , 2014, Parasitology Research.

[8]  G. Murtaza,et al.  Combating of scorpion bite with Pakistani medicinal plants having ethno-botanical evidences as antidote. , 2013, Acta poloniae pharmaceutica.

[9]  C. Jacob,et al.  Tetrasulfanes as Selective Modulators of the Cellular Thiolstat , 2013 .

[10]  A. Rinaldi,et al.  Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential of “Maltese Mushroom” (Cynomorium coccineum) by Means of Multiple Chemical and Biological Assays , 2013, Nutrients.

[11]  K. Becker,et al.  Selective antimicrobial activity associated with sulfur nanoparticles. , 2011, Journal of biomedical nanotechnology.

[12]  A. Viljoen,et al.  Erratum for: Plant-Based Antimicrobial Studies – Methods and Approaches to Study the Interaction between Natural Products , 2011, Planta medica.

[13]  Junlong Wang,et al.  Structural features and hypoglycaemic effects of Cynomorium songaricum polysaccharides on STZ-induced rats , 2010 .

[14]  Hyung‐Min Kim,et al.  Cynomorium songaricum induces spermatogenesis with glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) enhancement in rat testes. , 2010, Journal of ethnopharmacology.

[15]  Y. Liu,et al.  Effects of a flavonoid extract from Cynomorium songaricum on the swimming endurance of rats. , 2010, The American journal of Chinese medicine.

[16]  Rainer H Müller,et al.  Drug nanocrystals of poorly soluble drugs produced by high pressure homogenisation. , 2006, European journal of pharmaceutics and biopharmaceutics : official journal of Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Pharmazeutische Verfahrenstechnik e.V.

[17]  S. Jahnke The theory of high-pressure homogenization , 2001 .

[18]  T. Förster,et al.  Lipid/surfactant compounds as a new tool to optimize skin-care properties of personal-cleansing products , 2000 .

[19]  Karlheinz Hill,et al.  Alkyl Polyglycosides-Properties and Applications of a new Class of Surfactants. , 1998, Angewandte Chemie.

[20]  N. Stelter,et al.  Alkylpolyglykoside -— Okologische Bewertung einer neuen Generation nichtionischer Tenside/ Alkyl polyglycosides - ecological evaluation of a new generation of nonionic surfactants , 1995 .

[21]  Willem Jan Lecluse Theorie und Anwendung der Hochdruck-Homogenisierung† , 1980 .