Ethnobotanical Leaflets 11: 73-75. 2007. SHORT REVIEW Didymocarpus pedicellata: The Lithontriptic Ethnomedicine Dr. Amrit Pal
Singh PGDMB; BAMS; MD (Alternative Medicine),
Herbal Consultant, Ind-Swift Ltd, Address for correspondence: House No: 2101 Phase-7, Mohali-160062. Email amritpal2101@yahoo.com Issued
Didymocarpus pedicellata R.Br. (Gesneriaceae) is valuable although a lesser known medicinal plant. It is popularly known as stone flower. In Ayurveda it is known as shilapushpa, shantapushpi and sometimes pasanbheda (Bahl &.Seshadri, 1978). In common language it is known as charela or patharphori. Traditionally Didymocarpus pedicellata is used in the treatment of renal diseases particularly kidney stones (Kapoor & Kapoor, 1976). According to a hypothesis the plant is supposed to regulate calcium absorption in the body. The plant is known for its diuretic effect and in maintaining healthy urinary tract. In Ayurveda pasanbheda is a drug of
controversial origin. Further work on proper botanical identification of pasanbheda is
warranted. The following plants are used as pasanbheda in different parts
of
The plant is native to Tropical Asia (McGuffinet al). Didymocarpus pedicellata is a small herb with a reduced stem, bearing 2-3 pairs of opposite, roundy ovate, glabrous, glandular-punctate leaves, 3-6 inches in diameter (Kapoor & Kapoor, 1976; Shah, Shah & Mody, 1972). Chemically, the plant contains:
The essential oil of Didymocarpus pedicellata has antimicrobial activity (Singh, Sinha & Pathak, 1978). Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Didymocarpus pedicellata
demonstrated significant antioxidant and protective activity against ferric nitriloacetate induced renal oxidative stress, nephrotoxicity and tumor promotion response. Further the
extract provided significant protection against. The
extract also significantly and dose-dependently protected against ferric
nitriloacetate mediated damage to lipids and References 1.
2. Bahl, C.P. & T.R. Seshadri. Eds.1978. Pashanbhedi: drugs for urinary calculus, K.N. Udupa 77-98. 3. Bose. P.C. & N. Chauadhary. 1978. Didmyocarpin, a new flavanone from Didymocarpus pedicellata. Phytochem 17:587-8. 4. Bose. P.C. & N. Chauadhary. 1978. Isodidmyocarpin, a new chalcone from Didymocarpus pedicellata. J Indian Chem 25:1198-1200. 5. Garg, S.K., Gupta, S.R. & N.D. Sharma. 1979. Synthesis of 7-hydroxy-5, 6, 8-trimethoxyflavone: revision of structure of didmyocarpin. Indian J Chem 17B:394-5. 6. Guha, P.K. & A. Bhattacharya. 1992. 5, 8-dihydroxyflavone from the immature leaves of Didymocarpus pedicellata. Phytochem 31(5): 1833-34. 7. Kapoor, S.L. & L.D. Kapoor. 1976. On the botany and distribution of `pashanbheda', Sachitra Ayurved 28, 12, 769-791. 8. Kaur, G. et al. 2007. Protective effect of Didymocarpus pedicellata on ferric nitriloacetate induced renal oxidative stress and hyperproliferative response. Chem Biol Interact 165(1):33-34. 9. McGuffin, M. et al. eds. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. (Herbs Commerce ed2) 10. Rao, K.V. et al. 1966. Isolation and constitution of pedicellic acid a new dicarboxylic acid from the leaves of Didymocarpus pedicellata. Tetrahedron 22(4):1495-98. 11. Rathore, J.S., Garg, S.K. & S.R. Gupta. 1981. A chalcone and flavanones from Didymocarpus pedicellata. Phytochem 20:1755-6. 12. Rathore, J.S. et al. 1981. New phenolic compounds of Didymocarpus pedicellata. Phytochem 43:86-8. 13.
Shah, C.S., Shah, N. & K.D. Mody.
1972. Pharmacognostic study of pashanbhed:
I- 14. Sharma, V. & S. Siddiqui. 1939. The constituents of Didymocarpus pedicellata. Part 11. Comparative studies in the constitution of pedicin, isopedicin and pedicellin. J Indian Chem Soc 16:1-8. 15. Siddiqui, S. 1937. The constituents of Didymocarpus pedicellata. Part 1. Isolation of a new series of colouring matter. J Indian Chem Soc 12:703-8. 16.
Singh, A.
& A.S. Sandhu. 2005. A Dictionary of Medicinal Plants. Sundeep
Publishers, 17. Singh, P., Sinha, G.K. & RC. Pathak. 1978. Antimicrobial activity of some essential oils JRIM 13(4):111-114. |