Ethnobotanical Leaflets
Promising Phytochemicals from Indian Medicinal Plants Dr. Amrit Pal
Singh MD (Alternative Medicine), Medical
Executive, Ind-Swift Ltd, Address for
correspondence: Amrit Pal Singh House No. 2101, Phase-7, Mohali-160062 Email: amritpal2101@yahoo.com Issued Abstract The medicinal plants find application in pharmaceutical,
cosmetic, agricultural and food industry. The use of the medicinal herbs for
curing disease has been documented in history of all civilizations. With the
onset of research, it was concluded that plants contain active principles,
which are responsible, for curative action of the herbs. Ayurvedic
drugs are used in crude forms like expressed juice, powder, decoction or
infusion. Ancient healers, developed formulations based on medicinal herbs,
were probably not aware about the chemical composition of the herbs. But the
advancement they made despite non-availability of scientific procedures is
astonishing. Scientific research has proved the utility of time tested
remedies. The article reviews work done on isolated constituents of rare
Indian medicinal plants. Key Words: Ayurveda/ alkaloids/glycosides/medicinal
herbs. Introduction Medicinal herbs are significant source of synthetic and
herbal drugs. In the commercial market, medicinal herbs are used as raw
drugs, extracts or tinctures. Isolated active constituents are used for
applied research. For the last few decades, phytochemistry
(study of plants) has been making rapid progress and herbal products are
becoming popular. Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of Medicinal herb is a considered to be a chemical factory as it contains multitude of chemical compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, resins, oleoresins, sesquiterpene lactones and oils (essential and fixed). Today there is growing interest in chemical composition of plant based medicines. Several bioactive constituents have been isolated and studied for pharmacological activity. Clausena anisata Clausenol (carbazole alkaloid) isolated
from Clausena anisata has
shown antibacterial activity. The phytochemical was
found to be active against bacteria and fungi. Ceropegia juncea Cerpegin (a furopyridine alkaloid) from
Ceropegia juncea has
shown analgesic effect against acetic acid induced writhing in mice. Sarcocca pruniformis Saracocine reported from Sarcocca pruniformis
has not been investigated for pharmacological activity. Tylophora asthamatica Experiments conducted with Tylpohorine (has phenanthroindalizidine framework). in various animal models have shown significant anti-inflammatory, anti-anaphylactic and anti-spasmodic activites. Pre-treatment with Tylophora asthmatica prevented bronchospasm induced by Freund’s adjuvant and bovine albumin in rats. The same researchers observed that the plant extract produced muscle relaxant activity, antagonism of smooth muscle stimulants and immunosuppressive effects in different species.
Structure of Tylophorine Swertia chirata Amarogentin, bitter principle of Swertia chirata (chirata) has anti-leishmanial activity.27 Structure
of Amarogentin Swerchirin, xanthone
from Swertia chirayita (Chirata) has antidiabetic activity. Researchers compared the effects
of mode of action of three different hypoglycemic agents; centipiperalon,
tolbutamide and swerchinin
in normal as well as diabetic rats. Except in rats with severe pancreatic
damage, swerchinin showed better glucose lowering
effect compared to tolbutamide. Hibiscus vitofolius Gossypin from Hibiscus
vitofolius (Japa) has anti-nociceptive activity similar to opium alkaloids and
involving multineurotransmiter systems. . It acts
through cholinergic and GABAergic pathways. It
seems to have potential analgesic activity with free from tolerance and
dependence. Sophora japonica Rutin, a bioflavonoid isolated from Sophora japonica reduced the infract size an prevented the loss of the R
wave in anaesthetized rats subjected to coronary artery ligation.The
drug however not effected the heart rate and systolic blood pressure. The
cardio protective action of the drug is assumed due to antioxidant activity
of rutin.
Structure of Rutin Abies pindrow Extracts of Abies pindrow demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in various models of inflammation such as carrageenin induced paw oedema, granuloma pouch and Freund’s adjuvant arthritis. Chemical analysis indicated presence of glycosides, terpenoids and flavonoids. The flavonoids are terpenoids are effective in acute inflammation and glycosides are effective in chronic inflammation. Thevetia nerifolia Thevetin, a glycoside from Thevetia nerifolia (Karvira) has
digitalis like activity.36 Plumbago rosea In animal studies, plumbagin, napthoquinone from Plumbago rosea (Chitraka) has shown anti tumour
activity. The antitumour and radimodifying
properties of plumbagin were tested on mouse
Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Plumbagin
produced inhibition of exponentially growing tumours.
When radiation was combined with plumbagin, mouse
survival was increased by 120 days. However mode of action of anti cancer
activity of plumbagin remains unclear.
Structure of Plumbagin Curcuma longa Curcumin from Curcuma longa (Haridra) has
antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti cancer, and hepatoprotective.
The pharmacological activities of cucrcumnoids are
due to unique molecular structure. Aegle marmelos Luvangetin, pyranocoumarin from Aegle marmelos (Bilva), has shown potent gastroptroective activity. It gave significant protection against pylorus ligation and aspirin induce gastric ulcers in rats and cold restraint-induced gastric ulcers in rats and guinea pigs. Nelumbo nucifera Methanolic extract of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome and betulinic acid, a triterpene isolated from the plant demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory activity when tested in carrageenin and 5-hydroxytryptamine induced paw edema. The activity was comparable to betamethasone and phenylbutazone.
Structure of Betulinic acid Crateva nurvala Lupeol and other chemical constituents from Crateva nurvala
possessed significant anti-hyperxaluric and anti-hypercalcuric activity when tested in rats against hydroxyproline induced hyperoxaluria
and calciuria. Rubia cirdifolia Rubidianin, an anthraquinone
isolated from alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia has demonstrated significant antioxidant activity
as it prevented lipid peroxidation induced by
ferrous sulphate and t-butylhydroperoxide.
The drug depicted activity in dose-dependent manner. The anti-oxidant
activity of rubidianin was found to be better than mannitol, vitamin e and p-benzoquinone.
Boswellia serrata Boswellic acid,
from Boswellia serrata (Salai guggul) has anti-inflammatory
and immunomodulator. Boswellia serrata is widely prescribed in the
treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and bronchial asthma. Elephantus scaber Elephantopin
from Elephantus scaber (Gojihva) has
activity against the P388A mouse leukemia. Recently leaves of Elephantopus scaber have been
investigated against Cedrus deodara Himachalol from Cedrus deodara
(Deodara) has shown potent anti-allergic activity. Nardostachys jatamansi Jatamansin from Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi) has shown tranquillizing activity. Butea monosperma Palasonin from Butea monosperma inhibited glucose uptake and depleted the glycogen content in Ascaridia galli. Eclipta alba Wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone
from Eclipta alba (Bhringraja) have potent trypsin inhibitory effect.
Conclusion: With onset of scientific research in Ayurvedic system of medicine, it is becoming clearer that the medicinal herbs have a potential in today’s synthetic era, as numbers of medicines are becoming resistant. According to one estimate only 20% of the plant flora has been studied and 60%of synthetic medicines owe their origin to plants. Ancient knowledge coupled with scientific principles can come to the forefront and provide us with powerful remedies to eradicate the diseases. References: 1.
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