International Journal of Scientific Research and Review ISSN NO: 2279-543X

Traditional uses, Chemistry and Pharmacological activities of reflexa Roxb:A Compendious Review Afshan Khan1, Aisha Siddiqui2*, Anwar Jamal3

1 PG Scholar, 2Assistant Professor, 3 Research Officer

1, 2 Department of Ilmul Advia,School of Unani Medical Education and Research; Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. India.

3 Research Officer (Unani)-SL-ΙΙΙ, RRIUM, Bhadrak, Odisha-756100.

Abstract

In Traditional system of medicine Aftimoon (Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.) is also known as Akashbel, Amarbel and dodder . The plant is dispersed all through India, Srilanka, Iran, Australia, Ceylon and Malaya. It is an evergreen, perennial, rootless, leafless climbing parasitic plant of family, used for various medicinal purposes as Jaundice, Rheumatism, Gout, Constipation, Flatulence, Chronic fever and hiccough etc. The Cuscuta reflexa is investigated for antitumor, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antihypertensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, haemodynamic, muscle relaxant, psychopharmacological, cardiotonic and anticonvulsant activities etc. Many chemical constituents have been secluded from Cuscuta reflexa such as amarbelin, cuscutin, myricetin, beta-sterol, luteolin, qurecetin, stigmasterol, cuscutamine, luteolin etc. This review presents a critique of the literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, traditional and biological medicinal uses of Cuscuta reflexa.

Key words: Cuscuta reflexa, Parasitic plant, Phytochemistry, Ethnomedicine.

*Corresponding Author- Dr. Aisha Siddiqui Assistant Professor Department of Ilmul Advia,School of Unani Medical Education and Research;Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. India.

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INTRODUCTION The application of as medicines dates back to prehistoric period. Plants are more effective healers because they endorse the repair mechanisms in the natural way. Medicinal plants provide about 80% drugs world wide. Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. (Family: Convolvulaceae) is usually known as “Akashabela, Amarabela, dodder plant, devil’s hair etc. It is a perennial, parasitic, rootless, chlorophyll free parasite fully depends on a host plant for support and food supply. It is usually found in India and Ceylon upto an altitude of 2348m, also found in plains of Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand and Afghanistan etc [1]. In India, the plant is traditionally used for various medicinal purposes. The seeds are emmenagogue, sedative, diuretic, useful in disease of the spleen and liver, chronic fevers and hiccough, also purify the blood and clean the bowel [3]. Its stem is used as a purgative. Juice of the plant was given in combination with other purgative decoction [4] and also inhaled for treating jaundice, paste of the plant is applied in gout, rheumatism and for relieving headache [5]. Cuscuta reflexa is investigated for Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic, Antitumor, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Antiviral, Antihypertensive, Hair growth promoting and Spasmolytic activities etc. It contains Glycosides, Flavanoids, Alkaloids, Cuscutin, Cuscutalin and Amarvel etc. It also indicates the presence of astragallin [6], myricetin, benzopyrones [7]. A new compound reflexin [5- hyroxy – 7 methoxy – 6 (2, 3 epoxy-3 methyl butyl)-Flavanone] has been isolated [8].This review article presents a critique of the literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, traditional and biological medicinal uses of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.

Fig 1:- Cuscuta reflexa Roxb Flowers Fig2:- Cuscuta reflexa Roxb grows on other plants

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BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION OF Cuscuta reflexa Roxb.[9,10]

Kingdom ………….Plantae Subkingdom……….Tracheobionta Superdivision………Spermatophyta Division……………Angiospermes Class………………. Subclass…………… Order…….……...… Family………….….Cuscutaceae Alternate…………..Convolvulaceae Genus……………...Cuscuta Species…………….reflexa

SYNONYMS:

Amarvallari, Khavalli, Akashvalli, Asprsha, Aakashbel, Aaloklata, Vyomvallika, Amarbel [9].

VERNACULAR NAMES: [9,11]

Hindi - Amarbel Bengali - Swarnlata Malyali - Nirmuli Gujrati - Akasbel Telugu - Nulutega Tamil - Erumaikkottan Persian - Aftimoon Assamese- Akakhilata English – Dodder

HABITAT: Cuscuta reflexa plant usually climbs over the trees and shrubs. It is found in the temperate and tropical regions of the world with tremendous species assortment in tropical and subtropical regions. It is usually found in India, Afghanistan, Sri-lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Nepal [12].

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BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: Cuscuta reflexa is perennial parasitic herb. Stems are filiform twining, much–branched, often forming a tangled mass. Flowers solitary or in shortly pedunculate cyme, pedicles short, bracts ovate, 1.25mm long divided rather less than half way down, lobes deltoid ovate subobtuse often with a tubercular keel on the back. Corolla 2.5mm long, lobes about equalling the tubes, ovate- oblong, subobtuse, scales at the base of the filaments fimbriate. Filaments 0.8mm long style 2, distinct, 1mm long capsules hardly 2.5mm diameter, globose, hyaline, divided into 2 lobes by a deep furrow on top, seeds 1.6mm long usually four.Seeds 2-4, large, black and glabrous [13, 14].

MORPHOLOGY:

Macroscopic: The drug constitute a dense tuft of intertwine, much branched, very thin almost thread like light brown stem mass, Portions of host plant with the stem twined on it are also present. Stem is coarse to touch, glabrous, bears no leaves and breaks very easily.At places, fruits are borne on stem, 5-8 in number in a single cyme and light brown in colour. It has no odour but has a slightly bitter taste. Fruit is an indehicent capsule, 3-5mm in diameter globes in shape borne on pedicle. It has persistant calyx and almost transparent wall through which dark brown seeds are clearly visible. At the top it has a small pore while some bear reminiscent of style, still attached. It has four seeds, these are three sided, the one along its length is convex on one side. One side is slightly concave while the third is almost plane. The seeds are smooth, 1 to 1.5mm in diameter while the length is 1.5mm to 2mm. It has no odour but bitter in taste [13,14,15].

Microscopic: Transverse section of the stem shows a circular but a wavy outline. The outermost layer is a single row of epidermis, lined externally by a cuticle. Epidermal cells are not uniform in shape. A 4-6 layered zone of cortex which has thin walled cells of various sizes and shapes. Endodermal layer is non distinguishable. The cells towards the innermost layer of cortex become smaller and surround the vascular bundles, forming a sheath. Vascular bundles are collateral, 5-7 in number and not situated on the same radious. The xylem is not well developed and consists of thin vessels; few in number, in a single group. Phloem are scarcely distinguishable except that some large cells with small companion cells are seen outside the metaxylem.A large zone of pith consisting of thin walled cells present in the centre. The pith cells have a brown colour pigment. Some prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate are visible in isolated cells [13,14,16].

ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF Cuscuta reflexa Roxb

Cuscuta reflexa plant is conventionally used for various medicinal purposes. Its juice is used as an inhalant for treating jaundice and its paste is used in the treatment of rheumatism, gout and headache [17]. Stem is used in the treatment of bilious disorder, flatulence, constipation and other liver complaints, internally used in treating fevers and externally in the treatment of body pain. Fruits of C. reflexa are used in treating cough and fever. Seeds are used in diseases

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of Liver and spleen, chronic fever and hiccough [19]. It is also used as a hair growth promoter [20].The whole plant of Cuscuta reflexa is useful in curing the disease of bile as well as mental diseases such as melancholy and insanity.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:

Dulcitol, Luteolin,Quercetin, a Glycoside or lutcolin [39]. Organic: Alkaloid, protein, flavanoids, resin, tannin, glycosides and carbohydrates. Inorganic: Aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium and potassium [14]. Seeds contain amarbelin and kaempferol.Stem contains cuscutin, cuscutatin, beta-sitosterol, luteolin, bergenin and kaempferol [20]. Lupeol is a pharmacologically active tri-terpenoid, it has complex pharmacology in human possess anti-protozoal, Antimicrobial, Anti-inflammatory, chemo preventive properties. A new compound reflexin is isolated. Isorhamnetin 3-0-Neohes pheridosideviolaxanthin, lutein. Lycopene, carotene, α-cryptoxanthin are reported. Swarnalin and cis-swarnalin are two tetrahydrofuran derivatives with free radical scavenging activity from the aerial parts of cuscuta reflexa have been reported [20, 21].

Part Used: Whole plant [39] Stem & seeds [14] Temperament (Mizaj): Hot 2º Dry 2º [22, 39] Hot 3º Dry 2º [14] Hot 3º Dry 1º [24] Hot 3º Dry 3º [23] Dose (Miqdar khurak): 3-5g [39] 3.5-7g [23] 4-6g [14] 7-14g [22]

Toxicity or Adverse effect (Muzir asrat): Harmful for lungs and people of hot temperament, causes dryness, syncope, nausea and vomiting [22, 23]

Correctives (Musleh):

Zafran (Crocus sativa), Raughan Badam (Almond oil), Samagh Arbi (Acacia arabica) [14] Kateera (Astragalus gummifer) [22, 23]

Substitute (Badal): Turbud (Ipomoea turpethum) in equal weight Hasha 1/3 of the weight of Aftimoon [14]

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Ustukhudoos (Lavandula stoechas) Bisfaij (Polypodium vulgare) [22]

Compound Formulations (Murakkab): Sharbat Deenar, Itrifal Aftimoon [39] Sikanjbeen Aftimooni [14]

Pharmacological Actions:  Muarriq (Diaphoretic) [25]  Kasir Riyah (Carminative) [25]  Mudir Baul (Diuretic) [14,22,23,24,25]  Mudir Haiz (Emmenagogue) [25]  Mufatteh Sudad (Deobstruent) [14]  Muhallil Warm (Anti-inflammatory) [14]  Mulattif (Demulcent) [14]  Munaffis (Expectorant) [25]  Munavim (Sedative) [25]  Muqawwi (Tonic) [14]  Muqawwi Baah (Aphrodisiac) [25]  Musaffi Dam (Blood purifier) [25]  Mushil Balgham (Purgative of phlegm) [14]  Mushil Sauda (Purgative of black bile) [14]  Qatil Deedan (Anthelminthic) [25]

Therapeutic Uses:  Amraz Jild (Skin disorders) [22]  Deedan Ama (Intestinal worm) [14]  Dimaghi Amraz (Brain disorders) [22]  Faalij (Paralysis) [22]  Junoon (Schizophrenia) [14]  Kaboos (Nightmare) [14]  Khidar (Numbness) [22]  Khafqan (Palpitation) [22]  Laqwa (Facial paralysis) [22]  Malikhuliya (Melancholia) [14,23,24]  Nafakh Shikam (Flatulence) [23]  Sara (Epilepsy) [23, 24]  Sartan (Cancer) [22]  Saudavi Amraz (Ailments due to excessive black bile) [14]  Wajaul Azlaat wa Mafasil (Pain in muscles & joints) [25]  Warm Kabid (Hepatitis) [38,39]

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 Warm Tehal (Spleenomegaly) [14, 22]  Yarqan (Jaundice) [25]  Zof Kabid (Liver weakness) [14]

Pharmacological Studies:

 Antibacterial activity [34]  Anti-cancer activity [35]  Anticonvulsant activity [29]  Anti-HIV activity [32]  Anti-inflammatory activity [26]  Antioxidant activity [33]  Antipyretic activity [27,30]  Anxiolytic activity [31]  Cholenergic action [2]  Cytotoxic activity [26]  Diuretic activity [36]  Hair growth promoting activity [30]  Hepatoprotective activity [28]  Hypoglycaemic activity [37]  Relaxant and spasmolytic action [32]

CONCLUSION:

Cuscuta reflexa is an incredible parasitic plant having enormous range of medicinal activities like antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, Hypoglycaemic, anti-HIV, anxiolytic activity etc.In this review, we tried to make a summary on traditionally and scientifically proven uses of Cuscuta reflexa. Though it has a various medicinal properties since ages, there is an immense necessity to evident and explore its medicinal values at molecular lavels with the help of latest techniques and biotechnological tools. It is considered to be safe herbal medicine without any adverse effect, so it can be concluded that Aftimoon is a traditionally and clinically proven parasitic plant for both its efficacy and application.

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