A Comprehensive Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Elaeagnus Angustifolia L
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bs_bs_banner Review Journal of Pharmacy And Pharmacology A comprehensive review on phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Mohammad Hosein Farzaeia,b, Roodabeh Bahramsoltanic, Zahra Abbasabadia and Roja Rahimib,d aFaculty of Pharmacy, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran, bDepartment of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, cFaculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran and dPersian Medicine and Pharmacy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Keywords Abstract Elaeagnus angustifolia; oleaster; Russian olive; silver berry; wild olive Objective Elaeagnus angustifolia L., commonly known as oleaster or Russian olive, is used worldwide as a traditional natural remedy or nutritional agent for Correspondence the management of a wide range of illnesses. The aim of the present study is to Roja Rahimi, Department of Traditional comprehensively review the ethnopharmacological uses, biological activities and Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, phytochemistry of E. angustifolia. Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran 1417653761, Iran. Key findings Modern scientific investigations suggest that the plant possesses a E-mail: [email protected] broad spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic effects, including antimicro- bial, insecticidal, antioxidant, anti-arthritic, wound healing, cardioprotective, Received January 10, 2015 hypolipidemic, antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antitumour Accepted April 8, 2015 and gastroprotective activity. Various phytochemical constituents, including β-carboline alkaloids, polysaccharides, esters, flavone glycosides, phenols, phenolic doi: 10.1111/jphp.12442 acids, ketones, phenyl ethers, pyrimidines, steroids and terpenes, as well as nutri- tional components such as essential and non-essential amino acids and nutraceuticals like vitamins and fatty acids, have been identified in E. angustifolia. Summary Considering its wide variety of pharmacological activity as well as its huge diversity of active phytochemicals, E. angustifolia could be proposed as a good candidate for discovering new drugs. Further clinical and experimental studies are necessary to reveal the beneficial therapeutic, safety and pharmaceuti- cal properties of E. angustifolia and its phytochemicals as a complementary and alternative medicine for the management of various disorders. Introduction Elaeagnus angustifolia L. from the family Elaeagnaceae, and the leaves are alternate and petiolate. Its stems, leaves, commonly known as oleaster, Russian olive, wild olive or buds and fruits have a dense covering of silvery scales. This silver berry, is used as a food ingredient or herbal remedy plant produces fragrant flowers, 3- to 12-mm long, with for its reputed medicinal properties. The extensive geo- four-lobed creamy yellow calyx, in small axillary clusters. graphical range of oleaster from the Mediterranean to Fruits are berry-like or drupe-, oval-shaped, between 1 and northern Russia with wide variety of environmental condi- 2 cm long, which are edible, sweet and fleshy, with a dryish, tions indicates its high adaptability. The name Russian refers mealy texture. The roots are deep or extensive, with various to one of the main regions where the species is native, as well-developed laterals.[1–3] well as the cold tolerance of the tree. The name “Russian E. angustifolia possesses a wide variety of indications in olive” is hyphenated to specify that they are not true olives. traditional and folklore medicine of different nations. In Plant species from Elaeagnus genus are spread widely from addition, a wide range of pharmacological and biological the northern areas of Asia to the Himalayas, as well as activity has been reported for this species. Various com- Europe. E. angustifolia is native to central and western Asia pounds from different phytochemical categories have been and also southern Europe. This plant is a perennial tree or identified in E. angustifolia. Since there is no comprehensive large multi-stemmed shrub with flexible branches. Its review on therapeutic and pharmacological effects, as well height is between 5 and 12 m. E. angustifolia is deciduous as phytochemical constituents of this ancient medicinal © 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 67, pp. 1467–1480 1467 Elaeagnus angustifolia Mohammad Hosein Farzaei et al. plant, this study is paid to various prospects of E. female aphrodisiac, liver and spleen tonic, anti-diarrhoeal, angustifolia, including ethnomedicinal uses, pharmacologi- and for osteoporosis as well as stomach ache in different cal activity, phytochemical constituents and toxicological parts of Iran.[4–8] The aerial parts are considered to be a aspects, to provide a scientific source to plate future natural good remedy for varicocele, aphthous, swelling of the joints drugs elicited from this plant for managing various disor- and jaundice.[9] ders. In Pakistan, the whole plant is used for headache, heart burn and skin infections.[10] E. angustifolia fruit is a part of Materials and Methods cough and cold remedies, and is helpful for sore throat, high fever, dyspepsia and blood purification.[11–15] The gum Databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and exhibited beneficial effects for the treatment of asthma and Web of Science, were searched for studies focusing on the lung diseases, as well as hair loss.[13,14] ethnomedicinal use, phytochemical components, pharma- Turkish people use the fruit for kidney disorders and cological and biological activity, and also toxicological diarrhoea.[16,17] Dysentery, diseases of genitourinary tract, properties of E. angustifolia. Data were collected from 1966 asthenia of the spleen and stomach, dyspepsia, and enteritis to 2014 (up to November). The search terms were are other ethnomedical indications of E. angustifolia around ‘Elaeagnus angustifolia’ or ‘oleaster’. There was no language the world.[18,19] restriction. The reference list from retrieved papers was also reviewed for additional applicable studies. All published Phytochemical constituents articles as well as abstracts presented at meetings were evaluated. Based on different aspects of this medicinal Table 2 shows the chemical composition of E. angustifolia, plant, studies were separated and the data from each were some with nutritive value like different essential and non- extracted in three individual tables. essential amino acids, or carbohydrates like fructose, which is the major sugar in E. angustifolia fruit,[2] and some Ethnopharmacological uses nutraceuticals like water-soluble and oil-soluble vitamins.[20] Other phytochemical constituents of the plant are catego- Ethnopharmacological uses of different parts of E. rizedasfollow: angustifolia are summarized in Table 1. Astringent, antitus- sive, anti-inflammatory and carminative, as well as its ben- β-carboline alkaloids eficial effects on joints and arthritis, are some therapeutic properties of the plant, which is mentioned in Iranian tradi- The main structure of E. angustifolia alkaloids is tional medicine literatures. The fruit has also been used as β-carboline, which is a subgroup of indole alkaloids. Table 1 Ethnopharmacological uses of Elaeagnus angustifolia Traditional and ethnobotanical Plant part(s) References indications used Local name Region China – Flower, fruit, For the treatment of asthenia of the spleen and stomach, dyspepsia, enteritis, [25] leaf and bark diarrhoea and cough with yellow sputum Iran Senjed Fruit Anti-diarrhoeal, hepatoprotective and treatment of gastric pain [6] Arthrodynia, treatment of rheumatism and female aphrodisiac [7] Astringent, phlegm purgative from joints, arthritis, gout treatment, spleen tonic, [4] antitussive, anti-inflammatory, carminative, kidney stone Osteoporosis and stomach ache [8] Oil Myalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and knee-ache [63] Arborous parts Osteoporosis, diarrhoea, varicocele, anti-aphthous, swelling of the joints and jaundice [9] Jordan – Fruit Dysentery and diarrhoea [19] Lebanon and Syria Zayzafûn Aerial parts Diseases of the digestive and genitourinary systems [18] Pakistan Sinjoor Fruit, flower Cough and cold remedies [11–13] Fruit Dyspepsia and blood purification [14] Sore throat and high fever [15] Whole plant Headache, heart burning and skin infections [10] Gum Asthma treatment , bronchial and lung diseases [13] Luchak Tree gum Hair tonic for long and shiny hairs [14] Turkey I˙g˘ de Fruit Tonic, antipyretic, against kidney disorders and diarrhoea [16,17] 1468 © 2015 Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 67, pp. 1467–1480 Mohammad Hosein Farzaei et al. Elaeagnus angustifolia Table 2 Phytochemical constituents of Elaeagnus angustifolia Chemical References Plant part Compound category Amino acid Aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamine, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, Fruit [20] phenylalanine, histidine, lysine, arginine, tryptophan, cysteine and cysteinic acid β-carboline 2-methyl-l,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline Bark [64] alkaloid 1,2-dihyroharmaline [22] Dihydroharmane [21,65] 3,3-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one [22] Harmane [21,65] Harmol [22] N-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline [65] N-methyltetrahydroharmol [65] Tetrahydroharmane [21,65] Tetrahydroharmol [65] 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1-methyl-1H-pyrido[3, [22] 4-b]indole Carbohydrate Fructose, galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose,