Hybanthus Enneaspermus (L.) F
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Chinese Journal of Natural Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines 2013, 11(3): 0199−0206 Medicines Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell: a concise report on its phytopharmacological aspects D. K. Patel, R. Kumar, K. Sairam, S. Hemalatha* Pharmacognosy Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutics, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India Available online 20 May 2013 [ABSTRACT] Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell belonging to the family Violaceae, popularly known as Ratanpurus (Hindi) is a herb or a shrub distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In the Ayurvedic literature, the plant is reported to cure conditions of “Kapha” and “Pitta”, urinary calculi, strangury, painful dysentery, vomiting, burning sensation, wandering of the mind, urethral discharge, blood trouble, asthma, epilepsy, cough, and to give tone to the breasts. Phytochemically, the plant contains a consid- erable amount of dipeptide alkaloids, aurantiamide acetate, isoarborinol, and β-sitosterol, sugars, flavonoids, steroids, triterpenes, phe- nols, flavones, catachins, tannins, anthraquinones and amino acids. Pharmacologically, the plant is reported to possess antidiabetic, antiplasmodial, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, nephroprotective, aphrodisiac, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, aldose reductase inhibitory and free radical scavenging activities. The information provided in this review will be worthwhile to know the applicability of H. enneaspermus for the treatment of various acute or chronic diseases with a diverse nature of phytoconstituents. The overall data in this review article were collected from various scientific sources on the research of H. enneaspermus. [KEY WORDS] Antidiabetic; Antimicrobial; Antioxidant; Aphrodisiac; Hybanthus enneaspermus; Pharmacological activity; Phytochemis- try; Tissue culture [CLC Number] R284 [Document code] A [Article ID] 1672-3651(2013)03-0199-08 various ailments. In Ayurveda, it is known as Sthalakamala 1 Introduction and is reported to have diuretic and demulcent properties. Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Muell. (H. enneaspermus), The roots are used as a diuretic and in the treatment of gon- belonging to the family Violaceae, is a herb or a shrub dis- orrhea, urinary infections, and in the case of cholera, in the tributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of world, and form of infusion. It is very effective in the treatment of in- occurs mostly in the warmer parts of Deccan peninsula in fectious diseases, and is said to have antidiabetic, tonic, diu- India. The plant is popularly called “Ratanpurus” by the local retic, aphrodisiac and demulcent properties. Pharmacologi- Yanadi and Santal tribes, villagers and herbalists. This eth- cally, the plant has been reported to have antidiabetic, an- nobotanical herb is known to have unique medicinal proper- tiplasmodial, antimicrobial, anticonvulsant, nephroprotective, ties [1]. It is also known as “hump back flower”, and is a aphrodisiac, hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, aldose re- member of a genus of perennial herbs, often creeping, whose ductase inhibitory, and free radical scavenging activities. The leaves are alternate or in clusters. The genus consists of 150 natural regeneration potential of H. enneaspermus is very [1] species found in different regions of the world, often seen in poor due to the low seed viability . [2] mountainous regions . In Ayurveda, Siddha, and other tra- 2 Geographical Distribution and Classification ditional systems of medicine H. enneaspermus is used to treat H. enneaspermus is derived from a Greek word hypos which means "humpback flower", referring to the drooping [Received on] 08-May-2012 pedicels of plants that are a part of this genus. It is an impor- [Research funding] This project was supported by the financial assis- tant plant in the Indian system of medicine, and is popularly tance from University Grants Commission, New Delhi. [*Corresponding author] S. Hemalatha: Prof., E-mail: she- known as Lakshmisheshta, Padmavati, Padmacharini or Pu- [3] [email protected], Tel: 91-9415256481 rusharathna in Sanskrit . It is a small suffrutescent perennial These authors have no conflict of interest to declare. herb found mostly in the tropical and subtropical regions of Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved the world particularly in places like tropical Asia, Africa, 2013 年 5 月 第 11 卷 第 3 期 Chin J Nat Med May 2013 Vol. 11 No. 3 199 D. K. Patel, et al. /Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines 2013, 11(3): 199−206 Australia, Arabia, Sri Lanka, Indochina, Philippines, Borneo, ers to treat various types of complication like diabetes, ma- Java, Guinea, Taiwan, and in India [4]. The genus Hybanthus laria, male sterility, urinary tract infections, and water reten- Jacq. (Violaceae) comprises of over 100 species, which are tion [15-18]. The tender leaf stalks are used as demulcent; mostly herbs, shrubs, and treelets distributed widely whereas the roots are used as antigonorrhoeic, diuretic, for throughout the world. Almost 70 species are distributed bowel complaints and urinary problems. H. enneaspermus is mostly in Latin America, 20 species in Africa and Madagas- also used with food for pregnant and parturient women in car, 5 in Asia, and 11 in Australia [5]. In India, the genus is order to strengthen the child [4]. Formulations prepared from mainly found in warmer parts of the Deccan peninsula and the H. enneaspermus have been used externally for the treat- grows along with many other simulating weeds viz. Ammania ment of wounds and syphilis [19]. baccifera, Oldenlandia alata, Heliotropium bracteatum and Lindernia oppositifolia. It is pubescent in nature and grows 4 Pharmacognostical Features up to a height of 15−30 cm, and forms many diffuse or as- 4.1 Morphological characters cending branches. It has been noticed that the flowering sea- Roots of H. enneaspermus are spindle-shaped cylindrical, son of Hybanthus occurs from August to September, and all rough and light yellow in colour. Stem is sparingly branched [6] taxa of the Violaceae occur at high altitude . Taxonomically, with woody base and spreading erect branches. Leaves are it is classified and placed into the Kingdom: Plantae, Division: simple, alternate, sub-sessile, linear to lanceolate, 2.5 cm × Magnoliophyta, Class: Magnoliopsida, Order: Malpighiales, 0.7 cm, base nectariferous glands, apex acute. Flowers are 8 Family: Violaceae, Genus: Hybanthus, Species: Hybanthus to 10 mm across, pink in colour, axillary, solitary and zygo- enneaspermus. It is known by various names in different morphic. Sepals are five in number, lanceolate, sub-equal, language, such as in English: Spade Flower, Pink ladies slip- obovate, upper ones oblong, laterals falcate, lower ones or- per, in Hindi: Ratan purush, in Bengali: Munbora, in Kan- bicular, clawed, and saccate at base. Petals are five, pink nada: Purusharathna, in Malayalam and Tamil: Orilathamartai, coloured, unequal, upper ones oblong, laterals falcate long, in Telugu: Ratnapurusha, and in Marathi: Rathanparas. lower one larger, orbicular, clawed and saccate at base. Sta- mens are five, connate, anterior filaments appendaged, pu- 3 Traditional Uses berulous. Anthers are villous, while fruits are 5 mm across, H. enneaspermus was found to be well utilized in the capsule, sub-globose with ribbed seeds. Powder is grayish treatment of various simple and complicated disease and green, slightly odorous and has bland taste [20]. disorders. Many indigenous groups in India found their way 4.2 Microscopic characters of utilizing it in various forms to treat different ailments. In The epidermal cells of the leaf of H. enneaspermus is the Ayurvedic literature, the plant is reported to cure condi- composed of polygonal or elongated with straight, sinuous, or tions of “Kapha” and “Pitta”, urinary calculi, strangury, arched, thick anticlinal walls. It also shows unicellular and painful dysentery, vomiting, burning sensation, wandering of uniseriate-bicellular trichomes with vorrucoso margin. Sto- the mind, urethral discharge, blood trouble, asthma, epilepsy, mata are anisocytic, paracytic, anomocytic and transitional cough, and to give tone to the breasts [7]. Preparations made between anisocytic and paracytic. The ontogony of the ani- from the leaves and tender stalks of H. enneaspermus are socytic and paracytic stomata is syndetocheilic or meso- used in herbal medicine for their aphrodisiac, demulcent, and gonous, anomocytic is haploeheilie or perigonous, while that tonic properties. The roots are used as a diuretic and adminis- of the transitional type is mesoperigenous [21]. The stem is trated as an infusion in gonorrhea and urinary infections. The circular with uneven outline. The epidermis is uni-stratose fruits and leaves are used as antidotes for scorpion stings and and thin, the cells are squarish with thin cuticle striations. cobra bites by the Yanadi tribes [1]. The leaves and tender Hypodermis is collenchymatus 1−2 layered, cortex 5−6 lay- stalks are demulcent and used as a decoction or electuary; ers of thin walled. Vascular cylinder consists of sclerids, nar- mixed with oil, which is employed in preparing a cooling row zone of phloem and dense cylinder of xylem. Pith is liniment for headache [8]. An infusion of the plant is used to wide and parenchymatous. Root has narrow uniform zone of treat cholera [9-10]. H. enneaspermus is also used for the phellem and cortex. Cortex is composed of parenchyma, treatment of epilepsy, asthma, cough, cold, fever, stomach secondary