Memecylon Umbellatum (Melastomataceae ): a Review
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Volume 11, Issue 2, November – December 2011; Article-011 ISSN 0976 – 044X Review Article MEMECYLON UMBELLATUM (MELASTOMATACEAE ): A REVIEW 1 1 2 Himanshu Joshi* , Gururaja M. P and Sunity Singh 1NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Paneer, Deralakatte, Mangalore, India. 2Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management, Solan, H.P, India. *Corresponding author’s E-mail: [email protected] Accepted on: 25-08-2011; Finalized on: 20-11-2011. ABSTRACT The present review article is an effort to compile all the phytochemical and pharmacological investigations regarding the plant Memecylon umbellatum (Melastomataceae) which is distributed in Western Peninsula, mostly on the coast, commonly known as Iron Wood Tree. The plant is traditionally used to treat various ailments like goorrhoea, leucorrhoea, menorrhagia, diabetes, cough and also in the treatment of herpes. Several phytoconstituents has been isolated and identified from the different parts of the plant belonging to the category of glycosides, flavanols, tannins, saponins, sterols and triterpenoids. A review of chemical constituents present and their pharmacological activities are given in the present article. Keywords: Memecylon umbellatum, Melastomataceae, Iron Wood Tree, Phytochemical constituents. INTRODUCTION Flowers Description of the plant Type: Umbellate cymes from the axils of the fallen leaves on the old wood, numerous in number. Memecylon umbellatum is a shrub or a small tree, belonging to the family Melastomataceae. Peduncle: several together, 3 - 10 mm long, elongating in fruit. Pedicel: 2.5 - 3 mm long, very slender, buds pyriform. Calyx: 2.5 mm long, companualate before expansion (saucer shaped when expanded), 3 mm across the mouth when flowering. Disk: without or with very faint ray. Fruit Type: Berry, globose. Size: 6 mm in diameter. Colour: Purplish black. Shape: Crowned, though rather inconspicuously, with the calyx - limb, 1- (less commonly 2) seeded. Root Type: Tap root system Distribution It is found distributed in Western Peninsula, mostly on Morphology the coast. Inland, mostly in evergreen and semi-evergreen Leaves shrub. It is also found distributed in Orissa, Assam, Sylhet, Tenasserim, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula-Malay Archipelago. Size: 3.8 - 7.5 cm in length and 1.6 - 3.8 cm in width. The plant is known by various names in different Colour: Dark green and polished above, paler beneath. languages. Petiole: 2.5 - 5 mm long. English - Iron Wood Tree Shape: Elliptical or ovate, subacute or shortly and bluntly Sanskrit - Anjani acuminate, glabrous usually attenuated but sometimes Kannada - Alamaru, Alle, Neymaru rounded at the base. Telugu - Alli, Peddalli Malayalam - Anakkayavu, Kalayam Margin: slightly revolute; midrib prominent; lateral nerve Marathi - Anjani, Anjun obscure. Tamil - Alli, Anjani International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Page 54 Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net Volume 11, Issue 2, November – December 2011; Article-011 ISSN 0976 – 044X TRADITIONAL USES PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES In Ayurveda, the leaves are used as a cooling astringent; Isolation of various phytoconstituents like -amyrin, used in conjunctivitis as a lotion; and given internally in sitosterol, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, sitosterol--D- leucorrhoea and gonorrhea. A lotion prepared from glucoside and a new substance umbelactone, from the leaves is used to treat eye troubles. The leaves are aerial parts of Memecylon umbellatum have been 1-3 reported to possess antiviral activity . Traditionally the reported12. Isolation of some fatty acids were also been leaves and the bark are applied to bruises. The leaves reported from the roots of M. umbellatum13. The yield a yellow dye, which gives beautiful light shades, chemical synthesis of an important phytoconstituent 2 used in dyeing industry . The leaves were also used in umbelactone was also reported via its benzyl derivative14. 4 snakebite . The fruits are pulpy, astringent and edible. Two routes were employed for the synthesis of benzyl 5 The paste of leaves is used in the treatment of herpes . derivative, hydrogenolysis of the benzyl group in ethyl The decoction of the roots is used for the treatment of alcohol containing 10% palladium-carbon at atmospheric menorrhagia and the preparation from the bark for the pressure gave crude (±) umbelactone (yield 90%),further 6 treatment of bruises . The seeds are used to cure cough subjected to preparative TLC gave pure compound, mp 7 and sedative . The leaf powder is used for the treatment 60-62°C. of diabetes8. The total tannins in different parts of the plant were The wood is hard and heavy, it is traditionally used for estimated by simple spectrophotometric method at light axe handles and walking sticks. The decoction of the 700nm, where gallic acid was used to obtain standard 9 root is used in excessive menstrual discharge . In Dakshin curve16. Calibration curve shows coefficient of variance Kannada District traditionally the decoction of the root is (r2) = 0.9994 and tannin content was found to be highest used as spasmolytic and given to small children. in bark (2.4125 ± 0.124) then in leaves (1.7586 ± 0.18), 10 Karuppusamy S, 2007 , reported some medicinal plants roots (1.3318 ± 0.16) and Stem bark (1.0538 ± 0.16), all used by Paliyan tribes in Sirumalai hills of Eastern Ghats. collected in the month of Feb-March. Inflorescence About 90 medicinal plants were used in 17 various health showed minimum amount of tannins (0.08639 ± 0.064). problems, highest being for wound healing (12%). The Also estimations were made repeatedly with fresh and paste prepared from the leaves of Memecylon stored samples (up to 3 years) and found no significant umbellatum applied on pimples to disappear. As per the difference in tannin content indicates tannins are stable survey the plant Memecylon umbellatum is one of the up to three years if stored15. important medicinal plants used by Paliyan tribes The leaves of the M. umbellatum which have been especially for skin diseases. collected from Koppa and Bannerghatta are subjected for 11 PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDIES analysis of proximates, micro, macro and toxic elemental composition. The young and mature leaves are separately The various parameters like macro-morphology, micro analyzed. The study revealed that moisture, carbohydrate morphology, quantitative microscopy, physicochemical profile and the salient diagnostic features are and crude protein content are the dominant factors in documented. The characteristic powder analysis and both the young and mature leaf samples. Whereas, crude fluorescence analysis was also carried out. fat was followed by ash and crude fiber in both young and mature leaf samples of Koppa and in case of Table 1: Quantitative Microscopy of the leaves of Bannerghatta samples crude fat was followed by crude M.umbellatum Burm.f. fiber and ash. However, the young leaves are more nutrient than that of mature in both the cases. Among S.No Description Measurements the macronutrients K was dominant which is followed by 1 Stomatal Number 28.5 / Sq.mm Ca, Mg, Na and P in both young and mature leaves of 2 Stomatal Index Number 10.87 / Sq.mm Koppa whereas in case of Bannerghatta samples K was 3 Vein Islet Number 17.1 / Sq.mm followed by Ca, Mg, P and Na, in young leaves but in 4 Vein Termination Number 26 / Sq.mm mature leaves Ca was followed by K, Mg, Na and P in their concentrations. The Fe was highest among the micronutrients of both young and mature leaves of Koppa Table 2: Physicochemical Constants and Extractive Values and Bannerghatta samples. Fe was followed by Mn, Cu of the Leaves and Stem Powder of M. umbellatum and Zn in case of Koppa samples whereas Fe was followed Parts Used Leaves (%w/w) Stem (%w/w) by Mn, Zn and Cu in young leaves and Fe was followed by Total Ash 7.48 2.93 Mn, Cu and Zn in mature leaves sample of Bannerghatta. Water Soluble Ash 1.24 1.49 There was a significant variation of Cu among the different leaf samples of Koppa and Bannerghatta Sulphated Ash 59 11 samples. The Pb content of the young leaves of Koppa is Acid Insoluble Ash 0.534 0.533 higher than that of Bannerghatta samples and mature Water Soluble Extractive 1.16 0.32 leaves of Bannerghatta samples recorded high values of Alcohol Soluble Extractive 0.84 0.28 Pb than that of Koppa samples. Between the 2 toxic International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research Page 55 Available online at www.globalresearchonline.net Volume 11, Issue 2, November – December 2011; Article-011 ISSN 0976 – 044X elements Pb was higher than that of Cd and the mature Hypoglycemic activity leaves of both Koppa and Bannerghatta samples recorded The leaves and the roots of the plant Memecylon lowest concentration of Cd16. umbellatum were screened for hypoglycemic activity. Oral administration of an alcoholic extract of the leaves of Memecylon umbellatum showed a significant lowering of serum glucose levels in normal and alloxan induced diabetic mice17. The results of the study indicated that Memecylon umbellatum has interesting possibilities as a source of oral hypoglycemic agent. The alcoholic extract of the roots of Memecylon umbellatum also showed a significant lowering of serum glucose levels in normal and Ursolic acid 18 alloxan induced diabetic rats . Antimicrobial activity There are reports regarding the antibacterial activity of the leaves of the plant of Memecylon umbellatum.19 The plant was also found active against ranikhet virus3. The antimicrobial activities of another species M. malabaricum were also reported. The petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts of M. malabaricum leaves were screened for antimicrobial activity. The Sitostetrol glycoside methanol extracts has shown significant activity against both Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria and fungi20. Wound healing activity The plant was selected for the evaluation of its wound healing potential an alcoholic leaf extract of leaves of Memecylon umbellatum was examined for its wound healing activity in the form of ointment (0.5, 1.0, 2%w/w) Umbelactone in two type of wound model in rats the excision and the incision wound model.