Physalin D

Parasitology. 2013 Dec;140(14):1811-21.

Physalins B and F, seco-steroids isolated from Physalis angulata L., strongly inhibit proliferation, ultrastructure and infectivity of Trypanosoma cruzi.[Pubmed: 24001147]

We previously observed that physalins have immunomodulatory properties, as well as antileishmanial and antiplasmodial activities.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Here, we investigated the anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of physalin B, Physalin D, physalin F and physalin G. We found that physalin B and physalin F were the most potent compounds against trypomastigote and epimastigote forms of T. cruzi. Electron microscopy of trypomastigotes incubated with physalin B showed disruption of kinetoplast, alterations in Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum, followed by the formation of myelin-like figures, which were stained with MDC to confirm their autophagic vacuole identity. Physalin B-mediated alteration in Golgi apparatus was likely due to T. cruzi protease perturbation; however physalins did not inhibit activity of the trypanosomal protease cruzain. Flow cytometry examination showed that cell death is mainly caused by necrosis. Treatment with physalins reduced the invasion process, as well as intracellular parasite development in macrophage cell culture, with a potency similar to benznidazole. We observed that a combination of physalins and benznidazole has a greater anti-T. cruzi activity than when compounds were used alone.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results indicate that physalins, specifically B and F, are potent and selective trypanocidal agents. They cause structural alterations and induce autophagy, which ultimately lead to parasite cell death by a necrotic process.

Phytother Res. 2002 Aug;16(5):445-8.

Antimycobacterial physalins from Physalis angulata L. (Solanaceae).[Pubmed: 12203265]

Crude extracts and fractions from aerial parts of Physalis angulata have been bioassayed for antimycobacterial activity.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Fraction A1-29-12 containing Physalin B,physalin F and Physalin D exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration value (MIC) against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv strain of 32 microg/mL. Purified Physalin B and Physalin D were also tested showing MIC values against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv strain of > 128 microg/mL and 32 microg/mL respectively, suggesting that Physalin D plays a relevant role in the antimycobacterial activity displayed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Structural elucidation of both Physalin D and Physalin B was based on detailed (13)C and (1)H NMR spectral analysis with the aid of 2D-correlation spectroscopy ((1)H-(1)H, COSY, HSQC and HMBC). The assignment of the (13)C chemical shift for Physalin D is reported here for the first time.

J Nat Prod. 2011 Oct 28;74(10):2269-72.

Antimalarial activity of physalins B, D, F, and G.[Pubmed: 21954931]

The antimalarial activities of Physalin B, Physalin D, physalin F, and physalin G (1-4), isolated from Physalis angulata, were investigated.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In silico analysis using the similarity ensemble approach (SEA) database predicted the antimalarial activity of each of these compounds, which were shown using an in vitro assay against Plasmodium falciparum. However, treatment of P. berghei-infected mice with 3 increased parasitemia levels and mortality, whereas treatment with 2 was protective, causing a parasitemia reduction and a delay in mortality in P. berghei-infected mice.
CONCLUSIONS:
The exacerbation of in vivo infection by treatment with 3 is probably due to its potent immunosuppressive activity, which is not evident for 2.

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2006 Feb;58(2):235-41.

In-vitro and in-vivo antitumour activity of physalins B and D from Physalis angulata.[Pubmed: 16451752 ]

We have evaluated the in-vitro and in-vivo antitumour activity of physalin B and Physalin D isolated from the aerial parts of Physalis angulata.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In-vitro, both compounds displayed considerable cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines, showing IC50 values in the range of 0.58 to 15.18 microg mL(-1) for physalin B, and 0.28 to 2.43 microg mL(-1) for Physalin D. The antitumour activity of both compounds was confirmed in-vivo using mice bearing sarcoma 180 tumour cells. The in-vivo antitumour activity was related to the inhibition of tumour proliferation, as observed by the reduction of Ki67 staining in tumours of treated animals. Histopathological examination of the kidney and liver showed that both organs were affected by physalin treatment, but in a reversible manner.
CONCLUSIONS:
These compounds were probably responsible for the previously described antitumour activity of ethanol extracts of P. angulata, and their identification and characterization presented here could explain the ethnopharmacological use of this species in the treatment of cancer.

J Nat Prod. 2014 Nov 26;77(11):2397-403.

Antinociceptive properties of physalins from Physalis angulata.[Pubmed: 25396337 ]

Pain is the most common reason a patient sees a physician. Nevertheless, the use of typical painkillers is not completely effective in controlling all pain syndromes; therefore further attempts have been made to develop improved analgesic drugs. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antinociceptive properties of physalin B (1), Physalin D (2), physalin F (3), and physalin G (4) isolated from Physalis angulata in inflammatory and centrally mediated pain tests in mice.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
Systemic pretreatment with 1-4 produced dose-related antinociceptive effects on the writhing and formalin tests, traditional screening tools for the assessment of analgesic drugs. On the other hand, only 3 inhibited inflammatory parameters such as hyperalgesia, edema, and local production of TNF-α following induction with complete Freund's adjuvant. Treatment with 1, 3, and 4 produced an antinociceptive effect on the tail flick test, suggesting a centrally mediated antinociception. Reinforcing this idea, 2-4 enhanced the mice latency reaction time during the hot plate test. Mice treated with physalins did not demonstrate motor performance alterations.
CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that 1-4 present antinociceptive properties associated with central, but not anti-inflammatory, events and indicate a new pharmacological property of physalins.