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Volume 1 Issue 2 2012
The Journal of Phytopharmacology (Pharmacognosy and Phytomedicine Research) Phytopharmacology of Indian plant Sesbania grandiflora L.
Suresh Kashyap *1 , Sanjay Mishra 1
1. Rakshpal Bahadur College of Pharmacy, Bareilly 243001 [Email: [email protected]]
Abstract: Sesbania grandiflora L. is an Indian medicinal plant which belongs to family Leguminosae. It is cultivated in south or west India in the ganga valley and in Bengal. The plant contains rich in tanins, flavonoides, coumarins, steroids and triterpens. The plant used in colic disorder, jaundice, poisoning condition, small pox, eruptive fever, epilepsy etc. The present work is carried out on phytopharmacological survey of the plant.
Keywords: Sesbania grandiflora, Plant, Biological source, Phytopharmacology
Introduction: Plant drug profile
Biological source Plant name - Sesbania grandiflora L.
It consist of dried leaves of Sesbania Synonym – Agati grandiflora L. grandiflora L. , belonging to the family English – Agati sesban , Swamp pea Leguminosae. 1
Ayurvedic – Agastya, agasti, munidrum, Geographical source muni, vangasena, vakrapushpa, kumbha It is cultivated in south or west India in the Siddha/Tamil – Agatti ganga valley and in Bengal. It is believed to have originated either in India or Southeast
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Asia and grows primarily in hot and humid Macroscopical character 4 areas of the world. Sesbania is found from Sesbania grandiflora L. is a small erect, northern Luzon to Mindanao in settled areas fast growing, and sparsely branched tree that at low and medium altitudes. It was certainly reaches 10 m in height. The bark of this introduced into the Philippines. This tree species is light gray, corky and deeply occurs also in India to the Mascarene furrowed and the wood is soft and white. All Islands, through Malaya to tropical Sesbania species have pinnately compound Australia, and is planted in other tropical leaves where each leaf is divided into countries. 2,3 multiple leaflets. Agati leaves can be up to Botanical classification 4 : 30 cm long with 5 15 paired leaflets that are oblong to elliptic in shape and about 3 cm in
Kingdom Plantae length. The flowers of Sesbania grandiflora L. are large (7–9 cm long) and are borne on Subkingdom Tracheobionta an unbranched, pendulous inflorescence. Two varieties of Sesbania grandiflora L. are Superdivision Spermatophyta recognized including variety grandiflora Division Magnoliophyta which has white flowers and variety coccinea which has rose pink or red flowers. Class Magnoliopsida The flowers are similar in shape and
Subclass Rosidae arrangement to Pea flowers with five petals that are differentiated into a standard, wing, Order Fabales and keel petals. The standard petal is usually upright, the wing petals spread out on either Family Leguminosae side of the flower, and the keel is boat Genus Sesbania shaped and in this species is curved down and away from the flower. The fruit is a thin Species Sesbania grandiflora pod which can be up to 60 cm long and
contains from 15 50 seeds.
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Chemical constituents 5, 6
The tanins, flavonoides, coumarins, steroids and triterpens were present on all organ tested, with more or less important contents according to the intensity of coloring obtained. The alkaloids are generally found in the form of traces. The saponosides were more often present in methanolic extracts than aqueous ex tract. The saponosides would be rather present in the form of triterpens and steroids that in the form of heterosides. Leucocyanidin and cyanidin are the active ingredients of Sesbania grandiflora L. seeds and oleanolic acid and its methyl ester & kaemfero l 3 rutinoside are the major chemical constituents of flower. The bark contains tannins and gum. Saponin and Sesbanimide isolated from seeds.
Leucocyanidin
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Cyanidin
Oleanolic acid
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The flowers and young leaves of S. grandiflora are edible and are often used as a vegetable to supplement meals. Tender pods may also be eaten as string beans. The dried leaves of both S. grandiflora and S. sesban are used in some countries as a tea which is considered to have antibiotic, anti helminthic, anti tumor and contraceptive properties. Fruits and flowers are largely eaten by villagers in form of curries. The taller species of perennial Sesbania such as Kaempferol-3-rutinoside S. grandiflora , S. formosa and S. sesban can also be used as shade trees for coffee, tea and cocoa as well as living trellises for Traditional uses 8 pepper and as windbreaks for citrus, bananas Fruits are curative agent in colic disorder, and coffee. jaundice and poisoning condition. Bark is given as infusion in the first stages of small Medicinal uses 10 pox and other eruptive fever. Root is given with honey in catarrh. Juice of the leaves All parts of Sesbania grandiflora L. are and flowers is a popular remedy for nasal utilized for medicine in Southeastern Asia catarrh and headache when it is sniffed up and India including preparations derived the nostrils. It is also used in epilepsy in from the roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, elderly people. Flowers juice is also useful and fruit. In Folk Medicine it is resorted to in eye diseases. The superior efficacy of the be aperient, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, juice of flowers as an ideal expectorant, we febrifuge, laxative, and tonic. Agati is a folk have largely used it in pneumonia with remedy for bruises, catarrh, dysentery, eyes, marvelous results. fevers, headaches, smallpox, sores, sore throat, and stomatitis. Different parts of this Edible uses 9 plant are used in Siddha system of Indian Volume 1 Issue 2 2012 | THE JOURNAL OF PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 67
Suresh et. al. www.phytopharmajournal.com traditional medicine for the treatment of a decoction of the bark is prescribed against wide spectrum of ailments including anemia, haemopthisis. The bark is also given in bronchitis, fever, headache, ophthalmia, diarrhea and dysentery. In small doses, the nasal catarrh, inflammation, leprosy, gout bark is used for dysentery and sprue, in large and rheumatism. It also possesses anxiolytic doses, laxative, in still larger doses, emetic. and anticonvulsive and hepatoprotective In Ayurvedic medicine the leaves are properties. In addition, S. grandiflora is utilized for the treatment of epileptic fits. mentioned as a potent antidote for tobacco The juice of the leaves is considered and smoking related diseases. However, the anthelmintic and tonic and is used to treat mechanisms underlying its beneficial effects worms, biliousness, fever, gout, and against chronic smoking associated diseases itchiness, and leprosy. The tonic leaves are yet to be determined. The various parts useful in biliousness, fever, and nyctalopia. of sesbania are used as medicine for many The crushed leaves to sprains and bruises. diseases and disorders. Leaves are aperients, diuretic, laxative , In a number of cultures the root is applied as alexeteric. The flowers have an excellent a poultice for application to inflammation source of calcium and a fair source of iron. and fever. Powdered roots of Sesbania They are a good source of Vitamin B, also. grandiflora L. var . coccinea are mixed in The juice of the leaves and flowers is used water and applied externally as a poultice or as a popular remedy for nasal catarrh, and rub to rheumatic swelling. The juice of the headache, head congestion, or stuffy nose. root is given with honey as an expectorant in Flowers are used as emollient, laxative, catarrh. The bark is very astringent, and an aperitif and refrigerant the flowers, for infusion of it is given in smallpox and other biliousness, bronchitis, gout, nyctalopia, eruptive fevers. The bitter bark is considered aphrodisiacs, pain, thirst, ozoena, and tonic and febrifuge, it is also used for the quartan fever. The juice of the flower is treatment of ulcers in the mouth and squeezed into the eye to correct dim vision. alimentary canal, treatment of thrush and In Ayurveda, fruits are used for anemia, infantile disorders of the stomach. The bronchitis, fever, tumors. The fruits are pounded bark is applied to scabies. A calexeteric, laxative, and intellectually
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Suresh et. al. www.phytopharmajournal.com stimulating properties. It is also prescribed were confirmed by the TLC studies for the pain and thirst. using different visualizing reagents. Kachroo V., et al, et al, (2011) 13 Phytopharmacology of Sesbania studied the antimicrobial activity of grandiflora : different extracts of Sesbania Sheikh A.A., et al, (2011) 11 studied grandiflora , viz. extracts from leaves the wound healing activity of the and bark, using the Escherichia coli, ethanolic extract of Sesbania Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas grandiflora Linn. flowers. They used aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus 2% and 4% ointment of the extract by disc diffusion method they for excision and incision wound evaluated the microbial growth model and found that the plant has a inhibitory (Minimum inhibition significant response to it. The 4% concentration) property of the ointment of the plant ethanolic extracts and used ciprofloxacin as extract showed better result than the standard antimicrobial drug. The one with 2%. Nitrofurazone (0.2%) bark extract was found to possess was taken as the standard for the better antimicrobial activity than the study. leaves extract. The highest Avalaskar A.N., et al, (2011) 12 susceptible microorganism was performed the phytochemical and found to be E.coli and least TLC screening on the ethanolic P.aeruginosa. The lowest MIC was extract of the plant Sesbania calculated for E.coli and highest for grandiflora. The phytochemical P.aeruginosa. screening of the plant showed the Kachroo V., et al, (2011) 14 studied presence of multitude of compounds Sesbania grandiflora like alkaloids, glycosides, volatile pharmacognostically. They studied oils, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, the dried stem bark of the plant for etc. which are secondary metabolites the macroscopial, microscopial and are responsible for the evaluation as well as the ash value, therapeutic efficacy. The compounds moisture content and extractive
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values. The stem bark and its TS recovery percent, higher reducing were used for the studies. They power activity and highest lipid found galactomannans, linoleic acid, peroxidation inhibiting activity. β sitosterol and carbohydrates as its Patil R.B., et al, (2010) 17 studied the chemical constituent. anti inflammatory and anti arthritic Sarvanakumar A., et al, (2010) 15 effect of petroleum ether, studied the hypolipidemic activity of chloroform and methanol extracts of aqueous extract of Sesbania barks of Sesbania grandiflora and grandiflora in triton wr 1339 Sesbania sesban . Carrageenan induced hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar induced paw edema and Freund’s albino adult male rats were used for adjuvant induced arthritis was used the study were induced to study the pharmacological effects hyperlipidemia by triton wr 1339. of the plant. The different extracts of The aqueous extract of the plant both the plants elicited the protective showed a significant decrease in the effect against the inflammatory levels of serum cholesterol, response but the petroleum ether triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL, extract from Sesbania sesban was VLDL and a significant increase in found to be the best for both the the level of HDL. activities. Gowri S.S., et al, (2010) 16 evaluated Bhalke D., et al, (2010) 18 , the free radical scavenging and investigated the antiulcer activity of antioxidant activity of 70% acetone the ethanolic extract of the leaves of and 50% hydroalcoholic extract of Sesbania grandiflora . Various Sesbania grandiflora leaves and screening procedures; aspirin flowers by comparing it with induced, indomethacin induced, standard antioxidants. They found ethanol induced and pylorus ligation the 70% extract more potent than the were used for assessing the ulcer hydroalcoholic extract by comparing protective activity and total acid the values with the standard output. The ethanolic extract of the antioxidant α tocopherol in terms of plant decreased the intensity of
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gastric mucosal damage caused by days. The hepatic marker enzymes the ulcerogenic agents. In the pylorus such as aspartate aminotransferase ligated rats the extract significantly (AST), alanine aminotransferase reduced the basal gastric acid (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase secretion however the antiulcer (ALP) as well as renal markers such activity of the extract was less than as urea and creatinine were analyzed that of the standard drugs used. in the serum. Lipid peroxidation Karthikeyan P., et al, (2010) 19 markers mainly thiobarbituric acid evaluated the wound healing activity reactive substances (TBARS) and of methanolic extract of Sesbania antioxidant enzymes namely grandiflora poir. bark. The wound superoxide dismutase (SOD), healing activity was evaluated using Catalase (CAT) levels were studied. the excision and incision models for In addition the micronutrients mainly wound. Methanolic extract of the copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese bark in conc. of 2.5%, 5% and 10% (Mn) and selenium (Se) were w/w was applied topically as an analyzed in liver and kidney of the ointment prepared using 2% sodium rats exposed to cigarette smoke. The alginate. The plant elicited aqueous suspension of the plant significant result at the higher dose extract administered significantly when compared to 1% framycetin decreased the elevated hepatic, renal sulphate used as standard drug in the and lipid peroxidation markers and study. ameliorated the diminished Ramesh T., et al, (2010) 20 studied antioxidant levels and restored the the aqueous suspension of Sesbania hepatic and renal architecture in the grandiflora against the antioxidant cigarette smoked rats. capacity in the liver and kidney of Ramesh T., et al, (2006) 21 evaluated the rats exposed to cigarette smoke. the hypolipidemic activity of They using a modified method of aqueous suspension of Sesbania Eun Mi et al the rats were exposed grandiflora leaves in cigarette to cigarette smoke for 90 consecutive smoked rats. They using a modified
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method of Eun Mi et al estimated the Subramanian E.H., et al, (2003) 23 total lipids, total cholesterol, evaluated various pharmacological triglycerides, phospholipids, HDL effects of petroleum ether, cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, chloroform, methanol and water VLDL cholesterol levels. extracts of roots of Sesbania Administration of the extract at 1000 grandiflora L. The study involved mg/kg the plant decreases the levels screening of analgesic, antidiarrheal, of total cholesterol, total lipids, TGL, antibacterial ( Staphylococcus LDL, VLDL while increased the epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, levels of phospholipids and HDL Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus ensuring the hypolipidemic activity and Klebsiella pneumonia) and against the cigarette smoked induced antifungal activity ( candida albicans hyperlipidemia associated diseases. and Aspergillus niger. They found Jalalpure S.S., et al, (2006) 22 significant results with all extracts studied various seed oils from and concluded to be potent for different plants for their analgesic activity using writhing antihelmintic property. They reflex and tail immersion methods; investigated various seed oils by for antidiarrheal activity using castor using three different concentrations oil induced diarrhea; antibacterial against Pheretima posthuma by using tryptone soya agar medium determining the time taken in and sabourand dextrose agar paralysis and time of death of the medium. helminth. Sesbania grandiflora in a Rajasekaran A., et al, (2003) 24 dose dependent way proved to be the evaluated the diuretic, CNS most potent against the worm in a depressant and laxative effects of concentration of 10, 50 and 100 methanolic extract from the leaves of mg/ml. The plant at its highest Sesbania grandiflora using the concentration, elicited the shortest Lipschitz method, Actophotometer time of paralysis and the time of and Charcoal meal test respectively death for the worm used. for their studies. They using the
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methanolic extract of the plant on the the extract also bears a protective male wistar rats observed a effect on the gastric mucosa when significant increase in the urine administered concomitantly with output and Na + and K + excretion, NSAIDs and did not modify the decreased locomotor activity and gastric volume, pH and hydrochloric also elicited a promising laxative acid contents of gastric secretion. effect. Though the result for the Conclusion: diuretic activity of the plant was less than the standard Furosemide but the From the above work it is concluded that all excretion of Na + and K + indicates the parts of Sesbania grandiflora L. are utilized possession of natriuretic and for medicine in Southeastern Asia and India kaliuretic property in the plant. The including preparations derived from the plant showed good results for the roots, bark, gum, leaves, flowers, and fruit. locomotor activity as it elicited a In Folk Medicine it is resorted to be 61% reduction to that elicited by the aperient, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, standard dose of Diazepam and the febrifuge, laxative, and tonic. distance traveled by the charcoal Reference: meal confirms it having a good gastric motility property too. 1. Kirtikar basu, “Indian Medicinal Sertie J.A.A., et al, (2001) 25 studied Plants”, 2 nd edition, Bishen singh the ethanolic extract of the bark of Mahendra pal Singh publishers , plant Sesbania grandiflora for being 1991 antiulcerative. They used the stress 2. “Wealth of India”, publications and induced and NSAIDs induced lesions information directorate, CSIR models for the ulcer protective 3. http:// activity. The bark extract prevented ntbg.org/plants/plant_details.php?=1 the acute gastric mucosal injury 0459 induced by restraint stress and water 4. Wagh V.D., et al, “Phytochemical, immersion in a dose dependent pharmacological and manner. The study also revealed that phytopharmaceutics aspects of
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induced arthritis in rats. IJPS 2010; 22. Subramanian.H., Varghese.S,. et Vol 1: pp 75 89. al,.Pharmacological screening of 17. Bhalke.R., Giri.A., et al,. Antiulcer sesbania grandiflora poiret extracts. activity of ethanol extract of leaves Natural products sciences 2003; Vol of sesbania grandiflora. IJPPS 2010: 9: pp 154 157. Vol 2: pp 206 208. 23. Rajasakaran.A, and Murugusen.S. 18. Kartikeyan P., et al, “wound healing Diuretic, CNS depressant and activity of Sesbania grandiflora laxative evaluation of the leaf extract bark”, International journal of of sesbania grandiflora. Int J chem. pharma. Research and development , Sci 2003; Vol 4: pp 436 439. 2010, vol 3, issue 2, pp 87 93 24. Sertie.A.A., Wiezel.G,. et al,. 19. Ramesh.T., Sureka.C,. et al,. Antiulcer activity of etrhanol extract Sesbania grandiflora diminishes of sesbania grandiflora. Brazilian oxidative stress and ameliorates journal of pharmaceutical sciences antioxidant capacity in liver and 2001; Vol 37: pp 1 10. kidney of rats exposed to cigratte 25. Khare C.P., “Indian Medicinal smoke. Journal of physiology and Plants: an illustrated dictionary”, pharmacology 2010; Vol 4: pp 467 2007, Illustrated edition, Springer . 476.
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